Solar panels help to save money and conserve energy. Benefits of using home solar panels range from being eco-friendly to receiving tax breaks. This article gives you information on how and why to purchase solar panels.
Use solar-powered lamps for outdoor lighting. This type of lamp is cost-effective and needs no power other than sunlight. You save a lot of energy in the process. It will also save you money by not having to wire the outdoor lights to your home.
Heat your pools, hot tubs and showers more efficiently with a solar hot water system. Using natural gas or electricity is not as efficient as solar power, and solar water heaters can keep the water temperature steady. These upgrades may cost more, but qualify for tax deductions, too.
You can get a grant from the government to help you invest into some renewable energy. Contact your city or county government and ask about energy conservation programs available in your area. You may qualify for free wind or solar installation, or you may find that you can deduct some of your expenses on your taxes.
Be a smarter energy consumer by unplugging your electronic device chargers when they are not in use. Chargers for laptops, mp3 players, cell phones and other devices use power when they’re plugged in. This happens regardless of whether you’re using the device or not.
Wash your clothes in cold water whenever possible. Almost 90 percent of the consumed energy while washing your clothes is spent on heating up the water. Good detergents wash clothes even in cold water. Also, make sure your load is a full one so you do not waste energy washing several small loads.
Do not use your dishwasher unless it contains a full load of dishes. No matter how many dishes you have in there, it still uses the same level of energy. Make sure you are using the energy saving settings on your dishwasher that will air-dry your dishes.
Solar Energy
You can obtain hot water for a cheap cost with solar energy. Purchase a hot water system that uses solar energy. Two types are available, direct and indirect. Indirect systems are the best option for those who have frozen pipes during the winter.
Buy energy saving materials to help save energy in your home. Certain green items, such as eco-friendly windows and doors and double glazed windows, cut down on energy you need to keep your home going efficiently. By installing these products, your home is sealed tighter, and you use less energy to heat and cool your home.
Search for available rebates when you use renewable energy. Ask your utility company if they offer rebates for green energy upgrades. You may also qualify for tax credits or deductions from your state or from the federal government. These credits and rebates could reduce the cost associated to installing green technology in your house.
If you are not sure about making improvements to your home, hire professionals that can look over your systems and offer you ideas of what you can do to make your home more green. They’ll tell you the amount you’re losing due to inefficiency, and they will provide estimates on the cost to upgrade.
Monitor how many watts you’re using. There are devices like Watt Minder or Kill-A-Watt that can monitor your wattage and help you see what is consuming energy. Plug your appliances in to these devices to find out what amount of energy is required each year, month or hour to run it. With that information, you will be able to calculate how much that appliance costs to operate.
Create written reminders of your goals regarding energy efficiency, and compare your utility bills to those of the previous year to determine whether you are making positive steps. By being conscious of how you use energy, you can help significantly reduce the amount of energy you consume. If you form good habits of cutting your electric or water usage, turning off appliances and lights when not in use becomes automatic.
Less Energy
Swap your old appliances for newer ones that have an Energy Star rating. The Energy Star rated appliance is guaranteed to use appreciably less energy than the older non-rated appliance. This rating guarantees 20% less energy for freezers and refrigerators, 40% difference for dishwashers, and 50% for washing machines!
If you are in the market for wooden items, try bamboo wood. Bamboo is actually a grass but is very green and actually much stronger than most woods that are commercially available. Bamboo grows extremely fast and is currently being made into many products, from cutting board to flooring. The products are more affordable due to a reduction in the cost of manufacturing products.
Energy efficient appliances will feature the bright Energy Star sticker. Any appliance that has an ENERGY STAR logo meets guidelines for the U.S. Department of Energy plus the Environmental Protection Agency In addition to this, only ENERGY STAR appliances can be used for tax rebates.
Solar Panels
Make your home greener by adding solar panels. While solar panels require a significant up-front investment, the cost savings you will enjoy over the course of several years can more than pay for it. Solar energy becomes free when the panels are installed and you may be able to sell power to some local electric companies.
You can heat every room in your house separately and save yourself some money on your heat bill. A great option is a floor heater which can be turned on and off room by room. That is a great solution, particularly if your home is large.
As you have learned, choosing green energy for your home has many more benefits beyond the savings you will see in your monthly bill. Many green energy options are simple to buy, easy to install and long lasting. Having solar panels installed is a good way to go green, it is a good way to update your home as well.
