Using Green Energy To Reduce Your Reliance On Non-Renewable Resources
Most people think they will have to give up all their conveniences to “go green.” Fortunately, it is actually very easy. In many cases it is a simple matter of making good purchasing decisions to greatly reduce your energy usage.
A simple example of this is a programmable thermostat. This small device will assist you in keeping your home a temperature that is comfortable, but still uses less energy. You can do things like set it a few degrees lower in the winter. You can throw on a sweater and still be comfortable, and can save as much as 10 percent on your energy bill. As you can imagine, this is an extremely worthwhile investment. A few minutes of set up and you won’t even notice the difference.
Replace the fixtures in your bathroom. A water saving toilet will save three gallons or so per flush. A new water saving shower head can save a gallon of water every minute it runs. Even better, engineers have developed techniques that allow these water saving appliances to work just as well, if not better, than the older versions. While a few gallons here or there may not seem like much, over the course of a year that is going to add up to thousands of gallons saved, both in the environment and on your bill.
While bottled water has a positive image, there is some serious issues going on behind the curtain. Most bottled water is just tap water with a fancy label. On top of that, the industry seriously damages the water system by moving water to places it should never have gone, not to mention the energy required to bottle and ship it. If you are concerned about chemicals in your water just buy a filter. There are models available that can fit over your faucet, and are very convenient. If you are on the go a lot, you can also get a water bottle that filters your water on the fly.
While most people won’t be able to generate enough solar or wind energy to power their whole home, you should still consider adding a system. You don’t have to disconnect from the grid just because you have a few solar panels on your roof. In fact, solar energy becomes much more affordable if you use a grid-tied system that doesn’t require a large bank of batteries. The solar energy you produce will be used as it is created, or sold back to the power company. When the sun isn’t shining you will be using the traditional grid, so you don’t have to worry about the lights going out on dreary days.
As you can see, going green is really quite simple. Green tech has greatly improved over the past few years. While people are still using primarily non-renewable energy, options are becoming available to reduce energy usage and rely more on renewable sources. Putting these tips in action is just a start. There are plenty of ways to make your home more efficient and stay comfortable.