Green Energy Solutions Aren’t Only for New Homes!
When you’re building a new home, it’s relatively easy to “build in” green features like energy efficient appliances and insulation.
But what about an older home?
If your home is already “lived in”, can you do anything to improve it’s “green-ness” and save money on energy?
Of course!
Here are my top tips for green energy solutions in Winter, Summer – and things you can do right now!
Green Energy Solutions for WINTER
One of the best ways to go green and cut energy costs is by dressing more warmly. A thin sweater will provide you with two degrees F (about 1 degree C) of additional heat, while a heavier item will add four (about 2 C). The more layers you wear at home, the less energy you will need to use heating your house.
Setting the temperature to one where your home is not using much energy, makes a lot of sense. For example, depending on the climate where you live, choosing 60 degrees F or 15 C when you’re sleeping or away from home could be a great energy-saving tip. The rewards include more money in your pocket and a more environmentally sound approach to energy management.
Green Energy Solutions for SUMMER
Consider a dehumidifier. Humid air generally feels warmer. So if you dehumidify your home, it will feel cooler. Then you won’t need as much air conditioning. So you’ll save money on energy bills.
Get a programmable thermostat. These thermostats can regulate your home’s climate so you are not cooling or heating your home unnecessarily. The newer models can be programmed with multiple start and stop times for various days during the week to conserve power.
Green Energy Solutions for Right Now!
Ask your electric company for tips and advice on how to cut your electric bill. A lot of utility companies provide tools on their websites to assist you in seeing what energy you use. They also offer ways to reduce costs and consumption. Also check out programs they offer to help with the purchase of energy-efficient appliances and light bulbs.
Keep up-to-date with tax rebates for making your home more energy-efficient. Some utility companies also provide rebate opportunities for the installation of green technologies. There may be tax write-offs and other credits in return for your changes. All of these rebates will add up, potentially covering the cost of your renovation!
Rainwater can be used for many in-home applications (if you are legally allowed to collect it – in some US States you cannot). Not only will your water bills be less, you will be helping the environment. Collecting rainwater is actually quite simple; simply place multiple glass jars outside when you know it is going to rain and close the lid once they have filled. Or use buckets. To collect larger amounts of rainwater, use a barrel connected to a downspout (there are even some attractive ones – see more here).
A good way to save money is to only turn on your dishwasher when you have a full load ready to go. It is wasteful to run the dishwasher with just a few items inside. Properly place your dishes in it so you can fit as many as possible.
If you need to replace any faucets or taps, or bathroom fittings, also choose low flow options. For example, a low-flow shower will use much less water but still give you the same feeling of water pressure. An efficient toilet will use much less water per flush.
Green Energy Solutions – Renewable Energy
Adding solar (PV) panels to your home to get power from the sun, or a turbine to get wind power, is a great way to go green!
Of course, it depends on the climate where you live.
Here are 2 important tips when considering solar energy.
Tip 1: Leasing solar panels seems an attractive option because you don’t have to spend a lot of money to buy panels. But it’s not an ideal solution.
Many people want to go solar in order to free themselves from large utility companies – but by leasing, you’re tying yourself up again. And there are other important considerations too – read The Small Print – What Solar Leasing Companies DON’T Tell You. It may be wise to save up and buy solar yourself for true independence – you can still sell excess energy back to the grid if you choose the right company.
Tip 2: The second useful tip is to make sure you do a calculation using the hours of winter sunlight. You need to know how much energy you can reasonably expect to generate in Winter. This prevents any unanticipated effects, and it keeps you ahead of the game for summer months. You should be able to sell your excess energy back to a utility, without being tied to them.
And of course, before you invest into any type of alternative energy system make sure you find out all that you can about it so you can decide whether or not it is actually going to benefit you. Make sure you take precautions with any salesman who is eager to sell you a product or system without showing you actually evidence of their efficiency.
Green Energy Solutions Can Be Simple
Greener living can start with the simple task of replacing your light bulbs with energy efficient ones, and grow to become bigger home improvements.
Small, DIY projects can substantially decrease your household energy consumption, and you will save money, too. Pick a mini-project and get started right away.
Conclusion
In addition to saving you money, the advice from this article on green energy solutions for the older home will help to protect the environment. In a down economy, using green energy is a smart way to lower your bills, which saves money while saving the planet for future generations.
