Make A Difference With These Green Energy Tips

Jul 18, 2012 by xahara77

A great way to help save energy when using a dishwasher is to avoid using the dry cycle. The heat generated during this cycle uses lots of energy and can be completely avoided if you just leave your dishwasher open and letting them dry naturally in the open air.

Place a layer of insulation around your hot water heater. You can find a hot water heater insulation kit available from your local home improvement stores. This insulation wraps around the heater keeping heat from dissipating. This, in turn, keeps your water hotter for longer, so you do not waste energy re-heating water over and over.

Find out if there are any incentive programs in your area to help you offset the costs of installing green energy solutions. In the US you can use the Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy to check out local incentive programs which you can take advantage of, but also contact your Department of Energy office.

While it is a great idea to turn off your computer when you are not using it, it can be a waste of energy if you do it while you will only be away from it or short periods of time. It is best to wait until before you go to bed when you know there will be hours before you use it again.

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.

Avoid using your clothes dryer whenever possible. Drying your clothes outside on a washing line is one of the simplest ways to save energy costs. The clothes dryer is the third-largest energy user in the home, accounting for almost 6 percent of yearly energy consumption, and costing more than $100 to operate.

Simply cleaning or changing the filter on your furnace can cut electricity costs significantly. Too much dirt or dust built up in the vents can make more heat necessary to warm the house. It only takes a short amount of time to clean these, and you will notice the change in your bills!

Turn off all appliances. When not using appliances in your home, make it a habit to turn them off when not in use. Items such as televisions, computers, and lights should all be off so you can prevent unwanted energy use. Not only is this good for using less energy, your electric bill will be much less too!

One way to save money on energy costs is to choose energy-efficient doors, or learn how to better maximize the energy efficiency of your existing doors. On top of this, make sure that doors are not left open because this wastes energy. These steps will go a long way in saving you money.

Green energy is great to have in any home and can save you a lot on electrical bills that can seem to add up over months. Another great thing about investing into green technology is that you can use it as a tax write off which can help you get more back come tax season.

When shopping for new appliances, choose the ones where the energy star rating is in the most efficient range. Even if you cannot afford new appliances, you can choose new parts for your old appliances that are much more efficient and will help your old appliances save money and energy like new ones.

Pay attention to the thermostat in your home. Installing a programmable thermostat makes it easier for you to track the temperature in your house, and turn the heat down when you aren’t at home. Between 1 and 3 percent of your energy costs can be cut for each degree you turn it down!

Before investing in a green energy system, take the time to prepare your home. Inspect the walls and add an extra coat of insulation if you need to and replace old appliances that use too much power for power-efficient ones. Reducing your energy consumption is just as important as finding a clean and cheap source of energy.

Simple, cost-effective and quick, are all ways to describe the tips you’ve read here. With only a small time commitment, you will be able to make a few easy changes in your own home. You can then begin to use green energy for the benefit of yourself, your family and the world. How great is that?

Elliot Minehan owns a column regarding solar power homes