Improving your home by installing solar panels can help save both energy and money, as you may be aware. There are some good reasons for going green and decreasing your impact on the environment. This article will go over the various ways that you can go green and live a more environmentally friendly life.
Heat your pools, hot tubs and showers more efficiently with a solar hot water system. Traditional gas and electricity are not that efficient, but solar-powered water heaters glean the sun’s natural energy to maintain even temperatures. While a few of the upgrades are costlier up front, they might be eligible for tax deductions or green energy tax credits.
Conserve energy by unplugging chargers when you aren’t using them. Even if you are not charging your laptop, cell phone or mp3 player, just having it plugged in uses energy.
Use window coverings when you’re not at home. This keeps your home cooler naturally, reducing the strain on your air conditioner and saving energy. Usually the windows with the most sun are the one’s which face south. Dark drapes, or even energy-efficient lined drapes, are your best bet.
Monitor how many watts you use. There are devices like Watt Minder or Kill-A-Watt that can monitor your wattage and help you see what is consuming energy. By plugging any device into this gadget, it will tell you how much energy it consumes. This way, you will know how much that appliance costs you, and you can adjust your usage or settings accordingly.
It is beneficial to maintain your refrigerator to keep it working efficiently. Refrigerators use a large amount of electricity, and keeping it in good condition ensures this energy footprint is as low as it can be. Every week, check and see if dust has accumulated near the heating coils. If it has, take the time to remove it. You also want to make sure the door seal is tight and clean.
Everything you’ve read here is easy to get started with, so make sure you take the initiative and put them to use. The steps you take towards green energy today are steps towards a more environmentally sound future.
