A great way to make sure the environment is protected, while slashing energy costs, is to use green energy in your home. You don't need an electric car for this. Read on for information you can use to make your house energy-efficient.
Demand that watch dog legislation is put into place to get companies to use green energy. Although most people don't use it, awareness is the most powerful method of effecting 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. By holding companies accountable for their actions, that is the best way to get them to use green energy technology.
Use motion detection sensors on lights in the most popular rooms of your house. Use these sensors to turn the lights off when no one is in the room, which will save you money as you use less energy. Make sure your garage has outdoor lighting, as well.
Replace your old toilet with a water-saving one. Up to 50% of your home's water is used by the toilets in your home. Older models of toilets can have a capacity of 5 gallons. That is 5 gallons of wasted water per flush. New water saving models use closer to a gallon and a half of water per flush. This can save 70 percent of the water you used previously.
Use geothermal energy to heat and cool your home. Unlike normal HVAC systems, these systems rely on underground pipes that carry refrigerant and water. These underground pipes are used to heat and cool homes. This system is more efficient than other systems because underground temperatures are more stable than the air temperature in your home.
Keep track of your watt usage. Devices like Watt Minder and Kill-A-Watt can help you determine the highest energy-usage culprits in your home. By plugging any device into this gadget, it will tell you how much energy it consumes. You'll be able to calculate how much each appliance costs you in electricity and replace those which are power hogs.
Be sure you maintain your refrigerator properly. A refrigerator uses lots of energy so should be kept in good working condition. Make sure to clean heating coils often. You also want to make sure the door seal is tight and clean.
Understand the difference between passive and active solar power. Active power can be stored for later use. Passive power must be utilized more quickly but no expensive storage cells are required. Active solar power requires solar panels, cells, and mechanical systems. Passive power, on the other hand, stores the power in your walls and allows it to radiate outward, heating your home.
Don't set your thermostat to over 68 degrees if you can help it. In colder weather, you can make use of warm pajamas, sweat suits and slippers! Having your heat turned up too high will consume a great deal of unnecessary energy.
One green energy device you can use is a programmable thermostat. These thermostats change the temperature according to what you are doing in your home. For instance, if you are gone or sleeping, your home will become cooler to save energy. The newer models can be programed with multiple start and stop times for various days during the week to conserve power.
If you want to be green, you should think about transforming your cooling and heating system into a geothermal one. Alternate HVAC systems require underground pipes that have water and refrigerant. These pipes are connected to the geothermal system which heats or cools your home. Underground temperatures don't vary as much as air temperatures, which increases the efficiency of this kind of system.
Consider choosing a lighter color for your walls in order to save on electricity. Darker wall colors require more light--and therefore more electricity--to feel bright, so a home full of dark-colored walls is not at its greenest. If, however, you opt for light colors, your home will feel brighter, resulting in less energy expenses.
Applying these ideas is a lot easier than sorting through all the tips available online. You will be surprised at how easy it can be to make the changes needed to get started with green energy. Your family and your environment will thank you for it!
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