Sunday 13 January 2013

Go Green - Where Can You Start?



No matter if you are a tree hugger or just looking to save a bit of money, converting to green energy in your home will make a huge difference. Keep reading for useful advice, and tips on how to incorporate green energy into the technology that your house and family uses today. 

Solar Panels
To reduce your energy consumption and live a greener lifestyle, consider purchasing a home which already has green amenities. For example, an increasing number of real estate properties offer windmills, solar panels or other energy saving or green options for the socially conscious individual. Get a jump start on greening your home by purchasing one which is already green!
If you are building a new house from the ground up, build with green energy in mind. Make sure that your property has enough room for a wind turbine, or add on a roof that is sloped correctly for solar panels. This will help to make alternative energy sources a reality for you, and save you money over having to make many conversions later on. 
Remember that solar panels, whether you install them on your roof or anywhere else on your property, must be angled toward the sun to receive maximum exposure. In the Northern Hemisphere, this means facing them south with an angle of latitude plus fifteen degrees. Otherwise, your investment will not return as much energy as you hope. 
Go ahead and do some research on solar panels. You can find out a lot about how they truly benefit the environment. Don't become discouraged at their price, a lot of companies offer payment plans when you purchase solar panels for your home. The government also helps you by giving you a tax write off. 
Invest in solar power for your home. Adding a few solar panels to your roof can actually decrease the cost of heating or cooling your home by up to 50%! Talk to a professional about where best to install them on your roof, as the placement is very important to get the optimal amount of direct sunlight. 
For green energy consumption, you might want to consider an alternative source for your power needs like solar power. If you live in an area with high sunlight year round, you can install these solar panels on your roof and supply parts of your home with this free and clean energy from the sun. 
Think outside of the box. While many people think 'solar' panels when they think of green energy, there are other ways to take advantage of the sun. If you are building a new home, consider incorporating passive solar design into the home. By building with materials such as concrete or adobe and taking advantage of the sun's natural heat with south-facing windows, you can create a home that will naturally heat itself in the winter and stay cool in the summer. 
Use portable solar panels. Small solar panels are now available for the home, and some of them are very affordable. By putting the power of the sun to work in your home, you will not use as much electricity to power your devices, which can save you a good deal of money. 
If you are in the process of, or planning to, design your own home, you can build some green energy sources right into your home from the beginning. Start by looking for land that has a water source such as a creek or room for wind turbines. Another good idea is to choose a roof with solar panels built in. You can even position them to get the most out of sunlight. 
Whatever your reasons for wanting to go green, stick with them! Saving money is in everyone's interest, as is working for a cleaner environment. Hopefully, you have learned enough from this article to begin putting green energy to work in your home, to see significant savings and feel better about the impact you have on the environment very soon.

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