Save Energy In Your Home Solar Power Energy Generation Guide
Save Energy In Your Home With Tips And Ideas To Reduce Your Power Bills
By Gerard J Howson
Each American household typically spends $1,900 each
year on power. Unfortunately, most of this money gets
wasted on electronics that are plugged in long after
use, thermostats that remain too high, power-hogging
appliances, cracks under the door and conventional light
bulbs.
Not surprisingly, the amount of fossil fuels emitted
by a house is comparable to having two cars on the road.
Experts say that making small changes to save energy
in your home today, can help you find better savings
tomorrow.
There are many easy low-cost and no-cost ways to save
energy at home. Installing a programmable thermostat
will give you better control over your home’s temperature,
without needing to remember to adjust the thermostat
when you leave the house or go to sleep each night.
Fluorescent Light Bulbs Use Less Power And Last Longer
You can change all your lights to Energy Star compact
fluorescent light bulbs, which use less power and last
longer than conventional bulbs. You can air dry dishes
or hang laundry outside, instead of using the dry cycle
on your appliances.
When you’re not using your lights, computer, monitor,
TV, DVD player or power strip, turn off the devices
for better savings. Lower your water heater thermostat
down to 120°F and try taking shorter showers, rather
than baths.
Saving Energy In Your Kitchen
The kitchen is a good place to review your options
and begin to save energy in your home. During the winter,
you can turn your heat down lower as you cook, which
will naturally heat up the home. In the summer, you
will need ventilation systems removing the heat from
the home.
Before you fire up the stove, assess whether you can
use the microwave, toaster oven or convection oven instead,
as they consumer far less energy. Use lids when boiling
water on the stovetop to speed up the cook time.
Cook Larger Batches Of Food
Some families save money and energy by cooking larger
batches of food (like soups, sauces, chili or stews)
all at once to be frozen or refrigerated and easily
reheated in the microwave later. To keep your refrigeration
costs down, be sure you vacuum the energy coils at least
once or twice a year.
It’s also a good idea to let warm foods cool to room
temperature before refrigerating them. Remember that
heating water uses 25% of your energy bills, so dishwashing
by hand may not be such a bad idea. Be sure to look
for Energy Star appliances for your kitchen too.
Finding More Tips Online
You can find many ways to save energy in your home
at the Federal Trade Commission’s website (www.ftc.cgov).
In the attic, look for high value R-type insulation.
Check the Energy Guide ratings for new furnaces and
air conditioning units.
In the kitchen, keep your Energy Star refrigerator
away from appliances like stoves and dishwashers. Fill
your dishwasher, but don’t overload it. Most water heaters
are set at 140, but you can comfortably heat your water
at 120 degrees. Invest in energy efficient lighting,
such as compact fluorescent bulbs throughout your
house.
Lastly, you can look for low emission windows, plant
shade trees and seal your door frames better. With a
few basic changes, you’ll be saving money on your energy
statements in no time at all.
About the Author:
Gerard J Howson has written a number of articles on Home Improvement, Energy Efficient Appliances, Saving Energy,
Solar Power, Renewable Energy including
Energy Efficient Home,
Energy Savings,
Green Building Construction,
Smart Homes,
Green Building,
Solar Technology,
Solar Hot Water,
Solar Electric.
Gerard is working on more articles. Look out for new articles as they become available on this site.
Little Known Energy Efficient Home Devices Facts.....
Okay, you have traded in your giant SUV for a more
environmentally friendly automobile. You even car pool
with your coworkers to save gas. But what are you doing
about your home? Did you know that energy efficient
home devices can save you lots of money?
You can install solar panels and even put up a wind
mill so that you are generating your own energy. Plus
it is renewable and does not harm the environment. It
does take some knowledge but there are plenty of resources
for you to turn to to get that knowledge.
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