Now we know how important it is to care for the environment around us. Using green energy around your home is just one of the ways that you can care for your environment and save money. This article introduces new ways to prioritize green energy at home or work. Before you start incorporating green energy sources into your home, you should cut back on the amount of electricity you use.

Make sure you’re not wasting power by leaving things turned on when you’re not using them. This way, when you make the switch over to alternative energy sources, you’ll be more efficient with your energy usage. Try heating your home with a wood pellet stove. The pellets burned in a pellet stove are made of highly compact sawdust. They burn so cleanly than they are not required to get an EPA certification for emissions. Be aware, however, that the cost of the pellets may be high in some areas. If you clean your dishes using a dishwasher, refrain from doing a load until the dishwasher is completely full of dishes. Your dishwasher consumes the same energy and water, even if it is half full. When you do operate your dishwasher, be sure to make use of the energy-saving feature, which air-dries your dishes. Make sure that your home is completely sealed from all drafts, if you want to live green and use the principals of green energy. Windows and doors are your biggest culprits for letting hot and cold air out of your home. So, seal them up and start saving money.

When designing your solar PV system, try to locate the battery storage system as close to the PV cells as possible. This prevents power from getting lost in the cables. It also lessens any chance the cable will shade the cells, which reduces their generation capability. Save energy, and your hard-earned dollars, by only using your washing machine and dishwasher when you have a full load. A small load uses just as much energy as a full load and accomplishes a lot less for the energy expenditure. Let laundry stack up another day or two in order to maximize savings and efficiency. Also consider drying clothes outdoors on a clothesline if allowed in your area. The fresh outdoorsy scent can’t be beat, and you will show a significant savings in your utility bill if you cut back on your dryer usage. Before you start shopping for a wind power system, know how much power your home consumes. In order to get the most out of a residential wind power system, it needs to be the proper size. If your property is hooked into a utility grid, your wind system should be sized to provide about 50 – 80% of your power needs. Purchase solar lights for your garden and outdoor walkways.

These decorative lights are relatively inexpensive, and do not add to your electricity bill. During the day, these lights absorb power from the sun. At night, they light the area with the stored energy.

These are a fantastic way to reduce your energy consumption while beautifying your yard. One of the cheapest and easiest ways to make your home more energy efficient is by replacing all of your standard light bulbs with green versions. Not only do such bulbs reduce your energy bill through lower wattage and higher efficiency, but these bulbs are also made to last longer, giving you a two-fold return for your investment. Use a laptop computer instead of desktop, which uses much more energy. This could possibly reduce your electrical use by 75 percent, especially if the Internet is used frequently or there is heavy use of word processing software. The other benefit to using laptop over a desktop is that it is portable, so it can be taken anywhere! Use solar water heaters as a great alternative to heating water with electricity. They use the sun’s energy to heat water for use in your home or business. The ideal location for a solar water heating system is a south-facing roof that is not shaded. Current technologies allow the system to blend in with your roof so as not to detract from your home.

Responsibly recycling electronics is a great way to maximize resources. When people think of green energy they think of alternative energy. However, it is just as important to get the most from the non-renewable resources that we use as it is to minimize our use. Recycling electronics prevents unnecessary polluting of landfills as well as reuses resources that non-renewable. Try using a carpool if you want to reduce fuel consumption. If you have children, organize a carpooling system with your neighbors and trade off driving days among all the participating parents. You can also schedule grocery shopping and other errands with friends that live near you. Switching your boiler is a great energy saving tip. Older boilers weren’t built to be energy efficient, and they’re costing you an arm and a leg compared to a newer unit. Newer boilers don’t produce as much carbon dioxide and use less energy, which saves on your energy costs and promotes better health. No doubt, you read this article because you feel green energy is important. Make your home more energy efficient and minimize your carbon footprint by applying the ideas in this article. The money you save usually makes it worth the effort!