Green Energy Advice For The Average Consumer

Jul 13, 2012 by zester88

Swap your old thermostat for a greener programmable model. You can program these thermostats to adjust the temperature at particular times during the day, so your heating and cooling system will run less while you are at work or school. These thermostats are inexpensive, and they can save you money on your electric bill while preventing unnecessary energy use.

You can invest into different little things in your household that don’t consume a lot of energy. You can invest into electronics that are charged by the sun rather than through electrical outlets. Check into what items you can get for your household that are great green alternatives and see just how much you can contribute.

If offered in your location, try to switch your electricity company to a Green Power service provider. This is a great way to protect the environment and save you money. If you are unsure if you have one of these providers in your area, the Internet is great resource to find out.

Don’t try to install a wind generator on a small piece of property. First of all, you’ll likely get complaints from the neighbors, as an efficient wind turbine needs to be at least 30 feet off the ground. Secondly, you need about an acre of land in order to ensure an unobstructed prevailing wind.

Some energy can be saved by using less water. One way to cut down on water use is to install a toilet which uses minimum water with each flush. Many people pay for their water usage, so this type of toilet will also save money on your water utility bills.

If you are still using a more traditional source of energy, invest in a programmable thermostat. This will let you pre-set your temperatures for both day and night times. This leads to savings in both money and energy as during the night many people allow their homes to cool down via the natural decrease in temperature.

A good green energy tip for the holiday season is to use LED lights on your Christmas tree. LED Christmas lights are almost 90 percent more efficient than standard tree lights. According to a study by the U.S. Department of Energy, if every household in America used LED Christmas lights, it would save enough energy to power more than 200,000 homes for an entire year.

Deciduous Trees can come in handy when trying to save energy in your home. Place them in both your front and backyard if possible. This will help to shade your home, meaning that it will not get so hot. In turn, you will not have to use your air conditioning as much.

For your daily commute, find a group with whom to carpool. Getting those extra cars off the road will save on gas and pollution. As well, carpooling is very economical for you! Just taking one day a week from your traditional driving can mean up to a full tank of gas saved each month, depending on the length of your commute.

Make sure that all heating and cooling units and registers are not blocked by furniture, window treatments, or kid’s toys. If a piece of furniture must be placed in front of a baseboard heater, leave a space of two feet. This may seem like a waste of space, but this allows you to avoid wasting energy.

A very easy and cheap way to save on your high energy bills is to try installing some low flow shower heads and faucets. Switching from the standard, 2.5 gallon/minute shower heads, to the low flow 1.5 gallon/minute ones, can help you save a lot with your hot water energy costs.

Using green energy can save natural resources, and it will also save you some money. Use the tips in this article like a springboard, and let them get you started on a lifetime of green energy use. You will soon find that green energy is cheap, fun, and give you a sense that you are helping the world.

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