Perhaps you have heard how great solar panels can be for your home. Benefits of using home solar panels range from being eco-friendly to receiving tax breaks. This article describes other simple and effective ways to make your home green and energy efficient.
If you are thinking of designing your outdoor areas with lighting, consider using solar lamps instead of conventional power. These lamps aren’t costly and do not need additional power sources other than direct sun exposure. You will not only reduce the energy you use. It also means you don’t need hard wired outdoor lights.
One way to help conserve energy is to use window treatment to block sunlight. You could also try putting in curtains or blinds. Utilizing both of these methods will decrease you need for an air conditioner unit, since your home will not be as warm. You will save energy and money.
Wear natural fabrics instead of running your air conditioner during summer months. Cotton and similar fabrics will draw moisture from your skin, so you will stay cool. Light colors help you to feel cooler than darker or warmer colors.
Solar panels can be easily installed on your home and are used to collect energy from the sun for use in your home. But before you do this, there are a few things you must take into account. Think about how much sun your house typically gets. If you’re in a shady area, or a place that doesn’t have many sunny days, you won’t be able to gain as much power.
Do you own a farm? If you own a farm, consider installing an energy turbine on your property, or renting land to a utility company for that purpose. You will reap the benefits of this energy and the space needed is minimal.
Speak to a technician to find out if your fuel oiled heating can be changed to an alternative fuel, such as biodiesel. A lot of the existing systems can be modified with minimal parts or alterations. Bio-diesel fuels burn more efficiently and cleaner than conventional petroleum- based fuel oil.
When away from home, cover the windows. This simple act blocks the sun from entering and heating your house in the summer, while in the winter, it keeps the heat from escaping through drafty windows. Generally, your home’s south-facing walls and windows receive the most sun exposure. Use dark curtains, roman shades, roller shades or other coverings on all windows.
Think about buying solar water heaters for heating your water. This option is only applicable in areas that do not reach freezing temperatures. If you live in a warm climate, you can use a system that pumps your water through the solar heater before coming out of your pipes. But, be sure to keep a regular water heater for a backup should the sun not come out or for times that you need large amounts of hot water.
Solar Energy
Solar energy can heat water for a lesser cost. Purchase a hot water system that uses solar energy. There are both direct and indirect circulation options to choose from. Indirect systems are the best option for those who have frozen pipes during the winter.
Replace an energy-hogging water heating tank with a greener, tankless variety. Although they still use gas or electricity, they only heat on demand rather than maintaining an entire tank of hot water at all times. Tankless heaters come in various models that either supply a single faucet or the whole house with hot water.
Use LED lights to decorate for the holidays instead of traditional strand lights. A study was conducted by the U.S. One study conducted by the Department of Energy found that if everyone in the U.S. switched to these lights, more than two billion kilowatt hours worth of power would be saved. That’s enough electricity to power 200,000 houses for a whole year. At the very least, you can shave some money from your own power bill!
Incorporating green energy habits into your life can be rewarded with significant cost savings. Most of these systems can be purchased and installed easily, and are durable and long-lasting. Solar panels are a good way to be green and provide a much needed update for your home.