Today, many people are trying to make their daily life more green. Have you wondered exactly what green energy is? In simple terms, green energy is energy that can be reused, or is very efficient. In either case, there are benefits to the environment. Green energy is suitable for any home. See how you can take advantage of it by reading the following article.
Wear natural fabrics in the summertime instead of cranking up the air conditioner. Fabrics like cotton naturally draw moisture away from the skin, allowing it to stay cooler. Also, choose lighter colors. Darker colors absorb heat, which makes you feel warmer, meaning you’ll set your thermostat lower.
Unplug your chargers when they aren’t being used to charge your devices. Even if you are not charging your laptop, cell phone or mp3 player, just having it plugged in uses energy.
If your home is heated with fuel oil, ask a technician if you can switch to biodiesel. Sometimes you can make the switch to some use of biodiesel fuels without having to purchase new parts or make costly modifications. Biodiesel can assist you in cutting your environmental impact when it is cold, because it burns more efficiently and cleaner than petroleum.
Cover your windows if you’re not going to be home. These help your home remain cool and keep your energy bill down when you are not there. Southern facing windows receive the most sunlight. Window coverings such as roller shades, roman shades or dark curtains can be used on all windows.
Find out more about the different energy solutions in your community. Check the cost of running your home using these utilities, taking into consideration any recent legislation regarding energy costs. For example, it might be wise to use natural gas instead of electric heat or water from the well rather than city water.
If you use a dishwasher to clean your dishes, do not run it until it is completely full. Dishwashers do not allow for minimizing water or power consumption. It is the same, full or not. When you run the dishwasher, see to it that you are using its energy-saving setting; that will allow the dishes to dry using air.
Save on water heating costs by using solar energy. Install a water heating system that uses solar power. There are direct and indirect circulation systems available. Indirect is best if you have cold winters and worry about pipes freezing.
Make sure your refrigerator is properly maintained. Refrigerators use a large amount of energy, so they should be taken care of to work their best. Be sure that you’re regularly cleaning the dust that builds up near the heating coils. Also ensure that the rubber seals around the doors are clean and making tight contact.
Try using a solar oven for your baking needs. Solar ovens can be created with old windows, boxes, and foil. Ovens like this can be assembled quickly, reach temperatures in excess of 300 degrees, and do not require any energy besides the sun.
If you’re one of many who wants to live an environmentally friendly life, there’s plenty you can do. Even if you don’t have a ton of money, you can do simple things, like monthly cleaning of the filters in your furnace or lowering the thermostat to 60 degrees when you’re not going to be home. Reduce water heater temperatures to 121 degress or less to save money. No matter how small, everything helps!
Green Energy
As you have seen, green energy is increasing in popularity. Any type of renewable energy source or technology that increases energy efficiency is considered green energy. Green energy helps the environment by conserving electricity. You can get in on this by using green energy in many aspects throughout your home by using what you have learned from the above article to help you do that.