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| green energy |
If you want to help the environment without breaking the bank, look no further! There are several ways to make your home greener without spending money you don't have. Read this article for some quick and simple tips on how to go green at home, work, or while in the car!
If your property has a small stream running through it, you can install a micro hydropower system. These systems divert a small amount of the water through a turbine or wheel, providing energy that can be used to light and heat your home. If the flow is strong enough, you can power multiple homes on one of these systems.
As you ready yourself to make the switch to green energy, try getting a step ahead of the game by decreasing your present energy needs. By using less energy, it will be that much easier to switch to alternative sources because you won't be using as much. Good ways to start include using less light in your home, shortening hot showers and using cool instead of hot water for laundry.
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 know you are going to be leaving your home, set your heating system to go off about a half an hour before you leave, and to turn on again a half an hour before you return home. This way, you are saving energy, but your home will still feel comfortable when you return.
Insulating your hot water cylinder can help you to save large amounts of energy in your home. Putting insulation around your pipes helps your hot water to run more quickly as well. If you are unsure of how to do this yourself, you may want to enlist the help of a professional.
When you are cooking on your stove top, try to use a pan that fits the cooker ring just right. This will help to prevent heat loss. Also, when you can, put a lid on top of saucepans. In addition to heating your food up quicker, it will use less energy.
If you are fortunate and have a natural source of running water on your property, then hydropower might be for you. Hydropower involves diverting a portion of the water through a turbine or a wheel in order to provide your home with power. Once you have the equipment, the power will be free and much cleaner than traditional electricity, gas, or oil.
Unless it is absolutely necessary, keep the windows open in your home instead of using your air conditioning. One of the biggest energy users in your home is your air-conditioning system, and by keeping it on too often, you are going to spend a lot of money on your electricity bill.
Save energy, and your hard-earned dollars, by only using your washing machine and dishwasher when you have a full load. A small load uses just as much energy as a full load and accomplishes a lot less for the energy expenditure. Let laundry stack up another day or two in order to maximize savings and efficiency. Also consider drying clothes outdoors on a clothesline if allowed in your area. The fresh outdoorsy scent can't be beat, and you will show a significant savings in your utility bill if you cut back on your dryer usage.
Keep your home clean at all times. By constantly cleaning your home, you aren't allowing dirt to accumulate, which if left alone, you would need to use products with harsh chemicals to clean up. The less often you have to use these environmentally damaging products, the better off everyone will be.
A tankless water heater is a great, "green" addition to any house. A tankless heater will heat your water at the source, meaning you aren't storing heated water in a tank until you need to use it. The hot water is available almost immediately. This is an energy efficient option that can be added to most any home.
Keep passive solar energy in mind when building or remodeling a home. Passive solar homes collect sunlight through specially-designed roofs, walls, windows, and flooring. Passive solar energy ranges from having windows angled to collect southern sun exposure to homes that are heated entirely with the use of the sun.
If you are thinking about switching to solar power, do your research first. Some towns have restrictions regarding the number of collectors they allow. To bypass these limitations, think about getting your neighbors to join you and get a solar power unit that would provide power for a small group of homes.
Making changes to an existing home is very costly. If you want to start using green energies, you should think about moving or getting a new house built. Look for certain features such as running water or good exposure to the sun and wind when buying a new property or home.
Hybrid vehicles are becoming a big trend these days. People don't necessarily want to go full electric but they want to make a contribution to helping the environment. This is why a lot of people are investing into hybrid vehicles as they get to help the environment while at the same time paying a lot less for gas.
As you can see, knowing the basics about green energy technology is important.
As said in the beginning of the article, going green doesn't have to be costly or time consuming. Alternative energy can save money while helping the environment! Installing new light bulbs or cleaning your filter can help, without sacrificing too much time or money. Remember these tips so you can go green!
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