On thing that is on everyone's mind is making more use of environmentally-friendly energy sources every day. What exactly is green energy? Green energy is energy generated from a renewable or sustainable resource (e.g. the sun or wind) that can be generated and used efficiently. It does not matter what type of home you own, as you are about to discover they can all take advantage of this energy.
If you're considering switching to green energy sources, the easiest thing you can do is call up your current electric provider and see if the offer green energy. Many electric companies offer these power sources to their customers. They may cost a bit more, however, to offset the amount of money they would've had to invest in the sources.
If you live in a sunny area, you could generate your own energy. Invest in PV cells and have a professional install them on your roof. You should have your needs in electricity assessed by a professional to make sure your solar installation will provide enough power for your home.
Swap your old thermostat for a greener programmable model. You can program these thermostats to adjust the temperature at particular times during the day, so your heating and cooling system will run less while you are at work or school. These thermostats are inexpensive, and they can save you money on your electric bill while preventing unnecessary energy use.
If you use fuel oil to heat your home, ask a professional if you can use biodiesel. Many heating systems can be switched over to run on biodiesel without needing extra modifications or parts. Biodiesel is cleaner and more efficient to burn than oil, and it has a better affect on the environment.
Set your computer so that it goes to sleep when you are not using it for more than 10-15 minutes at any given time. While most people believe that screensavers save energy they do not, and should not be used as an alternative to placing your computer in a sleeping state.
If you want to make better use of energy in your home but aren't sure where to start, schedule a home energy audit from a professional auditor. These auditors can thoroughly investigate your home, and suggest ways to reduce your energy consumption, with green technology and other improvements.
Insulate your home. A pre-1950 home that isn't insulated will use approximately 60 percent more energy than a house that was built after 2000. Adding sufficient insulation to your attic and basement will greatly improve your home's energy efficiency. As well as keeping you warm in the winter, you will find that the home remains much cooler in the summer months, reducing the need for an air conditioner.
Make small changes if you do not have a lot of money to invest or do not have access to the kind of resources you need. Get a small solar power installation to provide power for one room only, and get a few solar cells to charge your cell phone and other devices, for instance.
Once you make the switch to green energies, let http://www.pge.com/en_US/residential/save-energy-money/savings-programs/led-lighting/led-lighting.page everyone know. A lot of people are not even considering this option because they are not educated enough about green energies: you have a chance to make a difference by using your own system to demonstrate how green energies visit my homepage work and convince more people to make the change.
Check your utility bills against previous years' bills to see how you're doing in your efforts to go green. You should also write down your goals for energy efficiency and reminders to help you stay on track. Keeping energy usage at the forefront of your mind can motivate you to use less energy in the long run. Taking the time to use less resources will help you get into a habit of preventing energy waste through unattended appliances.
Keep up with your watt usage. Use gadgets like the Watt Minder and the Kill-A-Watt so that you can discover what uses the most energy. You can plug in various devices into these devices and see how much energy that item uses for periods of time including a hour, month, and even a year. This will make you realize what a given appliance costs you over the long run.
Green energy might be available to you right now, so make a phone call and see if you can find it. Most electric companies are now offering green energy sources that can meet consumer's needs. You will likely have the option of switching partially to green energy, or entirely to green energy. You might pay a little more for these options, but you will be doing something great for the environment.
One easy way to go green is to use an on-demand water heater. Water heaters normally run all the time, even if hot water isn't needed. These heaters only heat water when necessary, which will increase your energy savings.
Consider the amount of energy it takes to run your computer. Different people hold different opinions on whether they prefer the use of a desktop or a laptop. There are two things for sure that cannot be argued against when it comes to laptops. They are portable, and they save you money on energy costs when compared to desktop computers. Computers are one of the pieces of equipment in your house that uses the most energy, so why not save some money?
Look for and use built-in power settings on your computer, laptop and other electronics to reduce their power consumption. Try dimming the screen in dark rooms or trimming resource usage for undemanding tasks. These steps can minimize the amount of electricity your devices need to operate, which conserves energy and lowers your utility bills.
A great tip to help save some energy is to make sure that your fridge and freezer are in a cool location. If you put your appliances in direct sunlight or on top of a heating vent, the internal temperature can be raised, requiring more electricity to keep your food cool.
If you've tried compact fluorescent lightbulbs in the past, but found their light to be cold and unappealing, try one of the newer models. The newer bulbs are much improved, and even more energy efficient than earlier ones. The designs are also improved, with smaller profiles and non-twisty models for fixtures where the bulbs are visible.
Now that you know what it takes to use green energy in your own home, forget all of the excuses you were using before. Take this article and put the information from it to use. You'll find that there are so many benefits, from saving money on bills to making money on extra energy, well within your reach!
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