Thursday 13 September 2012

Small Steps To Living A More Sustainable Life

You might have been aware of the positives of solar panels like saving money and conserving energy. Some of the benefits of installing solar panels on your home include government incentives and contributing to an ecologically friendly environment. Read on to find some ideas which will help you get started.

Take time to make sure to properly maintain the fridge. Refrigerators use a large amount of electricity, and keeping it in good condition ensures this energy footprint is as low as it can be. Make certain to clean the dust that surrounds heating coils periodically. Check frequently to ensure that the door seals tightly.

Find out about the various energy sources that are available in your local community. Investigate costs for using those utilities, and be aware of any legislation about energy costs. Switching from electricity to gas, or from your city water supply to a well, may save you money.

Air flow is better controlled in home that has stormed doors and windows installed. Storm doors and windows lessen the amount of cold air drafts that come in. Energy efficiency can be increased up to 45% in a home with storm windows and doors.

When designing your solar PV system, try to locate the battery storage system as close to the PV cells as possible. Doing this will help prevent power loss within the cable. The cable also is less likely to block power generation by providing shade if you do this.

You can use bio-fuels to heat your house. These fuels are made up of animal or vegetable fats, oils and wood. If you have a propane furnace a professional may be able to convert your furnace to a bio-fuel furnace. This fuel would contain anywhere from 20-99% biodiesel. Make sure you talk with a professional first before you try this fuel out.

Replacing an old boiler can save energy. A lot of the old boilers weren't constructed with energy saving in mind, as opposed to the newer ones which are much more energy efficient. Not only do they create less carbon dioxide, a poisonous gas, they can also lower your energy bill.

Do you have your own farm? If you do, then you probably own property. This might be an opportunity to rent a portion of that property to a company that will build a wind turbine on it. You and the neighbors can benefit from this free installation and energy which won't take up much space.

Solar panels can be added to your home as an easy green energy source. Although you may have to pay a sizeable amount to install these solar panels, you will make this money back within a few years via power savings. Once solar panels are in place the energy is free, and you might have the chance to sell some of the power to your electric company.

Think about installing a shower head that saves water. You will save a lot of water, but you will feel the same in the shower. You will realize significant savings on your water bill every month, and your efforts will also greatly benefit the planet.

You can watch the energy use in your home by buying a monitor to track it. These monitors meausure electricity usage in real time and approximate what your bill is going to be. Research has shown that when consumers know how much it costs to operate lights, appliances and other electrical devices, they will be more likely to slow down their energy consumption.

A great way to be green and save some money at the same time is to lower the temperature on your water heater to 120 degrees. By doing this you could save up to 10 percent off your electric bill, while still having comfortable enough water to cook and shower with.

Carpool so you can use less fuel. Ask other parents in the neighborhood if they are interested in carpooling for their children and trade days with them. If you have friends or family nearby, consider combining grocery trips together, alternating driving duties.

Research different types of energy sources which may be available in your area. Investigate costs for using those utilities, and be aware of any legislation about energy costs. For example, you might see a savings if you switch from electricity to natural gas, or even switch from electricity to solar or wind power.

Greener living can come in the form of large home improvements, or ones on the smaller scale like using energy-efficient light bulbs. A few small, do-it-yourself projects can have a great impact on the amount of energy you save and the money that will be saved as well! To begin, select a small project and expand from there.

Putting the heat to 60 degrees in the middle of the night, or when you're gone, is a great way to conserve energy. Setting the thermostat to 60 degrees will help cut energy usage. The resulting effect is energy usage cuts and money saved.

Watch dog legislation can encourage companies to use green energy. Merely being aware is a strong tool that isn't used much. If people knew which companies shunned green practices in favor of extra profits they might not buy from them. By putting the onus on companies, which use a great share of the nation's energy, the country will use less greenhouse gases.

Think about using a carpool for work and other activities in order to reduce the amount of fuel you use. Talk with other parents and try to arrange a carpool schedule so that you all take turns driving your kids to school. Synchronize grocery shopping trips with nearby friends and family by taking turns as the driver.

A simple way to start going green is to talk to your power company. A lot of them have the option on their website that will show you how much energy your household is using. They may also show ways you can lower your energy usage. Check out programs that help you buy energy-efficient light bulbs or appliances.

Put your refrigerator in a cool place within your home. Do not install your fridge in the sun light or next to a heating vent or more energy will be used to keep your food cold.

You will find the advice given here to be easily implemented. No excuses need to be made for why you cannot get on board with green energy. The steps you take towards green energy today are steps towards a more environmentally sound future

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