If the cost of solar panels seems high to you, start by working out how much energy you use and carry out an energy audit to identify savings you can make. This reduces the cost of solar panels for homes in most cases because you don’t build in surplus capacity.
Work on weather-proofing your home. Sealing up doors and windows can produce big energy savings by cutting down on heating or AC usage. Make sure (or have a professional do an energy audit for you) that you have enough insulation. One area that can usually benefit from more insulation is the attic, especially in n older homes.
In the summer cool your house naturally. You can reduce heat entering your house by closing the curtains and blinks during the sunny days and using ceiling fans. If you must, reserve the use of air conditioning for the hottest days and set it for about 75F or higher. If you don’t have one already, consider installing a programmable thermostat to automatically raise the temperature when no one is home. Of course, you can do it manually too, by adjusting the temperature before leaving the house. In winter lower the temperature to keep the interior cooler.
Switch off the lights and unplug electronic equipment when not in use. Establish a rule in your home to always turn the lights off when you leave a room, and switch the TV, stereo and computer are off when not in use. Better still, unplug all equipment that you are not using (TVs, DVDs, computers and kitchen appliances all use some electricity even when they are not turned on). For outdoor lights, consider a timer or use motion detectors instead of always leaving outside lights on.
Eat more of your meals raw. It is ideal for our health that our meals consist of at least 60% or more of fresh RAW fruits and vegetables. So make yourself big raw vegetable salads every day and have some sweet ripe fruit for desert. It is great for the planet, for you and for your wallet!
Choose countertop kitchen appliances over their stovetop equivalent. I do not recommend eating meat or fish raw, so for that consider buying a slow cooker, or a crock pot. Slow cooker can be used for everything from making roasts to stews. Because new ones use only the same amount of energy as a single light bulb, they are a very energy efficient way of cooking. When boiling water, choose a counter top electric kettle instead of using your stove. They use significantly less electricity and get the job done faster.
Make sure your refrigerator and freezer are operating efficiently. A fridge or freezer that is only half full uses significantly more energy than a full one, so keep them well stocked (you may even keep bottles of water if you don’t have enough food). If you have a really old refrigerator, maybe it’s time for a new one? Refrigerators (and other appliances) are becoming more energy efficient. Those that are over 10 years old can use up to 60% more electricity than new models. Clean the condenser at least once a year and maintain the temperature of the fridge at 37F and the freezer at 0F. This will keep your food at the perfect temperature without using excess electricity.
Before starting your dishwasher, make sure it is full. You’ll use less electricity and less water – and your dishes actually be cleaner! Another good tip that I received recently is to allow your dishes air dry or use the cool dry option rather than using the heat dry setting. Just by doing this you will cut the energy used for each load by up to 50%!
Replace incandescent bulbs with fluorescent bulbs. Even thought more expensive, in the long run the fluorescent light bulbs cost less. They can last almost ten times longer and use about 75% less electricity than incandescent light bulbs, so you will not only save money, but you will be producing less garbage. If you were to change only five of the light bulbs that you use most often, the saving can be about $30 per year.
Replace your older dimmers with digital dimmer switches. Although having dimmers on your lights is a great way to save energy, some of the older styles are no more efficient than regular switches. If you have a dial dimmer, check to see if the switch itself feels warm. If it does, you are not saving any energy by using it. Consider replacing it with one of the new digital dimmers to increase the amount of energy saved.
Insulate your hot water pipes. Insulate the first meter of pipe leading into and out of your hot-water tank as well as any metal hot-water pipes running through unheated spaces in your home. This quick and easy project will reduce the amount of electricity you use and save you some money.
Hang your clothes to dry instead of always using a dryer. If you choose to use the dryer, make sure the lint filter in your dryer is clean. Having a full lint filter in your clothes dryer can result in 30% more energy being used. Clean it before every use and scrub it with a soft bristle brush a few times a year. To check and see if it needs to be cleaned, fill it with water and see whether it drains. Often tiny particles can clog the holes even though it appears that they are clear.
Install motion detectors on your outdoor lights. Instead of leaving on your outdoor lights all evening, install motion detectors so they only come on when needed. This relatively simple change can save as much as 30% of the electricity needed for your outdoor lighting.
Find more information about green home and home solar panels on Home Solar Panels blog. Also read my posts: Home Solar Power as an Investment in the Future, where I talk about cost of solar panels and top reasons why you should build the solar panels yourself.
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energy saving tips,
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