How You Can Run Your Home On Solar Power
How You Can Run Your Home On Solar Power
As the world's population gets bigger, it becomes more important to minimize pollution. One way to do that is through the use of green energy. Green energy minimizes pollution and only has a minor impact on the environment. But what can you do to go green? Keep reading this article to find out.
Turn off the kitchen, bathroom, and any other exhaust fans as soon as you no longer need them. Some people leave the fans on for 20 minutes or so, but it is better to leave them on for no longer than five minutes after showering, bathing, or cooking is finished.
Recycling is one of the easiest tasks that can make a greener home. Some towns automatically include costs for recycling in their garbage collection, so look into this! If not, certain states including Michigan will pay consumers to return bottles after use. Recycling is one of the best ways to cut energy costs!
If you are repairing or replacing your roof, and you have good sun exposure, look into having photovoltaic (PV) cells integrated into the roofing material. Modern PV cells are much less noticeable than older styles. If you don't use all of the electric generated by your home, some utility companies will even let you feed it back into the system for credit against your bills.
Find out about various energy sources that are available in your area. Determine which energy source is cheapest for your home. Don't forget to account for any government incentives that might be in effect. It might be good to switch to natural gas or well water, as an example.
Don't keep things turned on all the time. Make sure that all lights are off when you exit a room, and also consider switching off the power for your television set, computer and stereo. The easiest way to do this is to plug everything into a power strip and then just switch that power strip to the off position whenever you need to.
A good way to begin your quest for green energy is to use alternative sources to heat your home. While wood stoves have been relied upon for countless years, the newer trend is toward pellet stoves. The pellets are composed of compressed sawdust and take up far less space than a wood-pile.
A helpful tip to live greener and conserve energy is to have the windows in your home tinted. The windows in your home act like glass in a greenhouse and when you want you home to be cool, the windows will heat it up and work against your air conditioner and cost you a bundle.
Too often, the water heater allows water to reach a scalding temperature when trying to take a shower. Try turning the maximum heat on the water heater down by twenty degrees, and you will see a definite decrease in electricity costs. Tankless water heaters are another green energy option for anyone.
The importance of green energy can't be understated. It's the future of energy, for a number of reasons. Thanks to this article, you know what you can do to become more environmentally friendly and to make the most of green energy. If you use what you've read here, you're sure to make a difference.