There are many ways to use green energy to help protect our environment. If you’re interested in green energy for your house, keep reading so you can learn how to get it done today.

When creating an outdoor light set up for a garden path or patio, think of solar powered lamps as an option. Solar lamps are relatively inexpensive and can save you a great deal on wiring and electricity expenses. This doesn’t merely save energy. It also ensures that there is no need to wire lights outdoor.

Keeping your windows shaded to keep sunlight out of the house will greatly conserve energy. Use curtains or blinds as an alternative. Since your home will become cooler, you will not have to use the air conditioning that much. You will save energy and money.

You could easily have solar panels in your house to collect energy from the sun for you to use. However, there are several things to consider before making any decisions. The number one to think about is the amount of sun your home gets. When in a shaded area, or city with less sunny days, there won’t be as many benefits from solar power.

Start paying attention to your energy consumption. Unplug the charger for your iPod and XBox when they are not in use. Whether you are charging your device or not, chargers for laptops, mp3 players, cellphones and other electronics keep drawing electrical power as long as they stay plugged in.

Whenever possible, use cold water to wash your clothing. Almost 90 percent of the consumed energy while washing your clothes is spent on heating up the water. As long as the washing detergent you use is reliable, using cold water instead of hot water will wash your clothes just as well. Furthermore, bear in mind that you will get maximum efficiency from washing a load that is full, rather then multiple small loads.

Think about getting solar heaters to heat up your water at home. If you live somewhere where you don’t have to be concerned with temperatures that are freezing, you can use a system that circulates water through the solar heater before it gets pumped into your home. However, consider that you may still need a traditional heater if you will be using a great deal of hot water, or if the sun does not come out for some time.

Rather than using a dryer, dry your clothes outside, as long as the weather permits. In addition to the energy savings, you clothes will smell incredible. They will smell better than anything coming out of a dryer. As well, you save quite a bit on monthly utility costs.

Make sure when you aren’t using something to turn it off. Upon leaving a particular room, remember to turn of the lights, television, computer or even the entertainment center. Use power strips for your electronics, and make sure to turn it of when you are not using it. If it is in standby it’s still wasting power.

Don’t run your dishwasher if it is less than totally full. Dishwashers consume a similar amount of water and electricity regardless of whether it contains one dish or 20. When running the dishwasher, ensure that you are using the energy-saving option, which allows the air-drying of your dishes.

Take time out to properly inspect your refrigerator. With the fridge being a top energy consumer in the home, maintenance is important for efficiency. Make certain to clean the dust that surrounds heating coils periodically. Don’t forget to be certain to keep the seal surrounding the door tight and clean.

Installing Storm Windows

Keep your home better insulated and control warm and cool air better by installing storm windows and doors. Storm doors and windows dramatically reduce the amount of drafts and cold air that get into your home. Installing storm windows and doors can increase energy efficiency by up to 45%.

Professionals can help to analyze your home and give you tips on making it more green. They will let you know how costly your appliances are, and they can give a detailed estimate on how much the costs will be to replace or upgrade your existing systems.

Try not putting the temperature up too much, as it may be unnecessary. If your home is cold, wear warmer clothing, like a sweatshirt and sweatpants. Having the heat up high wastes a lot of energy.

Watch your watt usage. Gadgets such as the Watt Minder or the Kill-A-Watt will help you find out which of your appliances are hogging energy. If you attach the device to the appliances in your home, it will let you know how much energy that appliance uses for different lengths of time. This is helpful in showing you exactly what each appliance costs to run.

You can use biofuel to heat your house. These fuels are comprised of vegetable or animal fats, wood and oils. You can hire a professional to adjust your propane furnace to be capable of using any type of fuel you desire. You would be able to use anywhere from 20 to 99 percent biodiesel. Just be sure to consult with a professional before attempting to use this fuel in your home.

Considering the purchase of a new boiler could save you money in the long run. A lot of the old boilers weren’t constructed with energy saving in mind, as opposed to the newer ones which are much more energy efficient. Not only can they shave money off your energy bill, but they benefit your health by releasing less carbon dioxide.

You may want to get bamboo items when you’re in the market for something made out of wood. Bamboo, which is actually a grass, is very energy-efficient. It is also quite strong compared to woods commonly used to build furniture. It replenishes itself rapidly, unlike most woods, and can be used for flooring, furniture and nearly any other wood product. That will save energy in production costs during manufacturing, as well as in recycling.

You can save money and protect the environment with green energy. As was demonstrated in the article, green living isn’t that tough or complex. So, use this article’s advice and energy efficiency is just around the corner.