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Easy Eco-friendly Power Tips Anyone Can Practice

Anyone who has used gas and oil can reluctantly agree that green energy is cleaner, safer, and less expensive. But many people don't know how to implement green energy into their lives. So here are just a few of the many ways that green energy can be good for your home and your life.

Start paying attention to your energy consumption. Unplug the charger for your iPod and XBox when they are not in use. Chargers for devices like phones, music players, computers and others use small amounts of power any time they are in an outlet, even if you aren't charging anything.

Solar panels can be an excellent investment for the typical homeowner. However, before beginning this process, you need to realize a few things. The most important thing that needs to be taken into consideration is to determine how much sun your home gets on average. If your house is usually in the shade, solar panels will provide limited additional power.



Reverse the direction of the blades on your fan if you'd like to cut heating costs by as much as 10 percent! Although most people use fans for cooling, it's possible to use them to suck cold air up and make your home feel much warmer without turning up the heat.

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.



Think about using the wind to power your home for an excellent source of green energy. You will not only be off the power grid, but the wind is an emission free source of energy that is in plentiful supply in many areas of the world. The initial cost may be high, but the savings in the long run are high as well.

Save on water heating costs by using solar energy. Buy a hot-water system that is solar-powered. There are direct and indirect circulation systems available. The indirect one is your best option if you have to worry about frozen pipes in the winter.

During the holidays, it can be tempting to want to put up a lot of lights, both inside and outside your home. However, this is not wise. Not only will your electric bill be extremely high, but you will be using too much energy. Try to use Christmas lights sparingly.

Many people who own homes with air-conditioning fail to realize how much energy is used by these units. If you have an air-conditioned home, consider a greener way of cooling off by saving the energy used to cool the air. Try to save air-conditioning for the hottest days. Keep blinds and drapes drawn during the hottest hours and open windows and doors after the sun goes down. Ceiling fans can also help a great deal!

Consider opting for a solar hot water heating system. If you must use hot water to run your dishwasher or do your laundry, a solar hot water system can benefit you. If you live in an area where freezing is not a concern, a direct circulation system will be perfect for you.

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.

Buy a programmable thermostat. An Energy Star programmable thermostat will regulate your home's temperature year-round, both day and night. Always set your thermostat a couple of degrees less than you think the temperature should be, as you won't really notice the difference in your home. An Energy Star thermostat will save you about $180 a year in heating costs.

If you would like to save the environment, remember that it can be done in small steps as well as big ones. You can do things like clean your furnace or change the settings to 60 degrees when you aren't at home. You can also help reduce energy usage by reducing the temperature of your water heater to 120 degrees. Every little thing you can do will help.

Get some green plants in your home and your garden. Green plants transform carbon dioxide into oxygen: keeping plants in your home is a good way to balance the harmful emanations from your heating system. It is also a good alternative to opening up windows and losing heat to change the air in your home.

When you invest in green energy, you are not only helping to reduce any monthly electric bills you would normally have. You are also helping the environment by consuming less energy from outside sources allowing less green house gases to be emitted into the atmosphere which let's the world become a healthier place to live in.

Consider replacing the heating oil in your home with bio fuel. Bio fuel is non-toxic and biodegradable. It comes from things like animal fats and vegetable fats. It can be just as efficient as petroleum based oil, but the product will come at a significantly reduced cost. If you can't switch over entirely, consider talking to a technician to see if switching to a blend might be an option for you.

A great old fashioned way to heat your home and to save on energy is to use a wood burner. There are newer, more modern versions of wood burners called pellet stoves. These stoves burn pellets http://www.myledlighting1.weebly.com/home/the-things-you-should-look-for-when-buying-led-technology/ that are made of compressed sawdust. Both of these methods of heat burn with few emissions and do not require an EPA certification.

Since heating accounts for the largest portion of any home's energy usage, this should be the first system you target when trying to improve the energy efficiency of your home. Look for leaks or insulation issues, place restrictions on thermostat usage and bring in a heating professional to assess the efficiency of your furnace.

Don't drink bottled water. Bottled water is often just repackaged tap water, and the process of bottling the water and transporting it to the store is very wasteful. If you don't trust tap water in the community, buy a reusable bottle with a filter.

This article is a gold mine for anyone who wishes to change their lives to take advantage of the benefits of green energy. Everything that you've read here will help you to make simple adjustments, within your own home, leading to rewards you couldn't have imagined. Take the time to start today!