Sunday 23 September 2012

Small Ways You Can Start Living More Green

The possibilities for taking advantage of the green energy revolution are varied, and you'll be amazed how easy and cheap it is to go green. This article provides you with the information needed to make your own home more green.

Use natural fabrics in the summer instead of turning up the AC. Fabrics, such as cotton, draw the moisture further from your skin and let it stay cooler. You may feel warmer when you wear warm-colored clothing, so wear light-colored clothing in order to use the air conditioner less.

Change the settings of your thermostat depending on the time of year and fluctuating temperatures. Lower your thermostat slightly in the winter and raise it slightly in the summer. In addition to doing this, try wearing less or more clothing (depending on the weather), and reduce energy usage in your home and keep your temperature reasonable.

Pay careful attention to rebates that may help you save money on renewable energy. Local utility companies often offer rebates for upgrades. Other companies may offer tax deductions from your local or federal government. These offers make installing and using a green energy system much more affordable.

If you want to install solar panels, you have to point them towards the sun. For instance, panels in Northern Hemisphere locations need to face south at a 15 degree angle. This way ensures that you always receive adequate power.

Switch your boiler to save more energy. A lot of the older boilers weren't made to conserve energy, yet newer ones were made to keep this in mind. Newer boilers produce far less carbon dioxide and reduce energy bills.

Do your bit to ensure that big businesses are encouraged to embrace green energy habits. Awareness can be a highly effective method of promoting change. If consumers were aware of the companies that chose not to utilize green practices because it cut into their profits, they may stay away from them. Ensuring companies are held publicly accountable for their choices is the best method to encourage green corporate behavior.

Consider installing solar powered lamps for outdoor lighting. These inexpensive lamps require no external power source and can run entirely on solar power. This not only reduces energy costs, Also, it will no longer be necessary to install wired outdoor lights.

During the summer months, hang your clothes outside instead of drying them in the dryer. In addition to the energy savings, you clothes will smell incredible. Sun-drying clothes gives them a fresh smell. You will also have lower utility bills.

You will find that it's easy to get solar panels and they're a great way to get energy for your home. Before undertaking this project however, there are a few things to consider. The biggest thing to consider is how much sun does your house get on average? If you're in a shady area, or a place that doesn't have many sunny days, you won't be able to gain as much power.

If you are in the market for wooden items, try bamboo wood. Bamboo is very green and strong and is technically considered a grass. Since bamboo grows quite fast it is one of the best renewable choices you can make. You can find a variety of bamboo products, from floors to furniture to cutting boards for the kitchen. This saves on recycling energy and the production of manufacturing products.

Choose to get most of your correspondence via email. In other words, choose to go paperless in any way you can. Businesses will have a much easier time communicating with you, and they will be saving energy. This benefits everyone in society along with your own business.

When purchasing wood items, consider getting products that are crafted from bamboo. Bamboo grows fast and in abundance; it does not have the same negative environmental impact as cutting down trees. It grows quickly and can be used and sold for a variety of purposes, from cutting boards to flooring. This will reduce energy consumption for the production and recycling of manufacturing items.

Maintain your furnace to save energy. Replace filters annually and clean them once a month. Also, you may want your warm-air registers to have filters. These filters keep children's toys, dirt or dust from clogging the heating ducts.

When doing any updates to your home, look for energy-efficient products. Examples of these include windows, light bulbs, and appliances, all of which have been designed to run efficiently on reduced energy. When using these types of products you cut down on your heating and cooling costs.

There are products available for purchase that can help you reduce your energy costs. Certain green items, such as eco-friendly windows and doors and double glazed windows, cut down on energy you need to keep your home going efficiently. These kinds of products can cut down dramatically on your cooling and heating costs.

Lower your water heater temperature to 120 degrees to save energy and money. This way, you can save up to ten percent on your energy bill for a four-person family. You will still get enough hot water and it will be safer for children as well.

Use drapes or curtains in your windows for when you are not home. You will lower your energy costs since this will help keep your home nice and cool. Typically windows on the southern side of the home receive the most sun. Cover all of these windows with curtains, blinds or roller shades.

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.

While solar energy may not be a whole-house option for your home, consider a partial solar set-up that can offset part of your utility consumption. You can use solar panels to heat water, for example.

Homes greatly vary in layout and geographical area. It is important to keep these parameters in mind when choosing a technology. Some technologies can work in any location, while others are site-specific. Find tips that work in your home and use them

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