Welcome to Gaia! :: View User's Journal | Gaia Journals

Going green will not only benefit you, but it will also benefit the environment. The simple changes you implement to make your home energy efficient will cut your electrical costs significantly. Read this article for some quick tips on conserving the energy used while at home.

By cutting back on electricity use, you will save quite a bit of money. When not using a certain appliance, unplug it from the outlet. Be diligent about switching off the television or lighting if you aren't using them. This is an easy way to save cash as well.

One way to help conserve energy is to use check here window treatment to block sunlight. You can do this by putting up blinds or curtains. If you do these things, you will cut your use of air conditioning throughout the warm months, as your home will be a bit cooler. You'll save money as well as energy.

The government has made grants for investing in renewable energy available to the public. Contact local government and discover the programs that exist locally. You might qualify for a solar or wind installation at no cost, or at least be able to deduct your expenses from your taxes.

It is important to clean your furnace filter on a regular basis to be sure you are using as little energy as possible heating your home. Adding filters to your warm-air registers is not a bad idea, either. These filters keep debris or toys from entering the duct-work, which could reduce the efficiency of your HVAC system.

Do things like wash your clothes inside some cold water, if you can. Most of the energy used to wash clothes is actually used in heating up the water. If you are using good quality washing detergent, cold water is effective. Another great tip is to always fill up the washer with a full load so that you're being as efficient as possible.

If you have a dishwasher make sure you only run it when it is full. It uses the same amount of energy and water, no matter how full it is. When you do run the dishwasher, make sure to use the energy saving setting, which will allow your dishes to air-dry.

Maintain your refrigerator. Since refrigerators are one of the high-consumption appliances, it's crucial that you keep it running efficiently. Clean heating coils regularly to get rid of dust. You should also be sure that the door has a clean and tight seal.

The flow of air in a home is better controlled when you have stormed windows and doors installed. Storm doors and windows dramatically reduce the amount of drafts and cold air that get into your home. Energy efficiency improves by 45% when storm doors and windows are implemented, which are big energy savers.

A green tankless model of water heater can replace a regular tank styled water heater. Tankless heaters still use electricity or gas to provide hot water, but they only heat the water you actually need. There are tankless heaters designed to not only provide one area with hot water, but also to heat entire houses.

One of the best ways to go green and cut energy costs is by dressing more warmly. If you wear a light sweater, you'll feel two degrees warmer. A thicker sweater adds about four degrees. There is no need to be fashionable while at home watching TV, so put on some layers and put some money back in your pocket!

Search for available rebates when you use renewable energy. In many cases, the electric company will pay for part of the upgrades. If this is not possible, you can find out if upgrades can be used as tax deductions. You may also be able to get credits from the government, either state or federal. These rebates, credits, and other allowances can make it much more affordable to install renewable energy equipment on your property.

Try using LED lights as opposed to conventional ones for the next holiday season. A U.S. Department of Energy study shows that people waste a lot of energy on traditional Christmas lights. We could save at least a couple billion kilowatt hours if each person would make this change. That is enough power to run more than 200,000 homes for one whole year. An additional benefit to using LED lights is the savings you will receive on your electric bill.

Trim your fuel usage by carpooling to more places than just work. IF you've got kids, create a carpool system with other parents in the neighborhood. If you are located close to other families, agree to do your grocery shopping at the same time and rotate who drives each week.

Switch your boiler to save more energy. Old boilers weren't manufactured with energy-savings in mind. New ones, however, are made to be energy efficient. Not only do they create less carbon dioxide, a poisonous gas, they can also lower your energy bill.

Use the microwave instead if you'd like to save energy. Ovens use much more energy than the microwave for cooking. Take advantage of the microwave whenever you can to cut down on your overall energy consumption.

The tips in this article show that you do not have to spend a lot of money or waste a lot of time going green. Usually this can be accomplished with just a few simple changes that can save you money on electricity costs. Apply these tips to your own life, and share them with others, and you can build a better environmental future.