With the wealth of information available on green energy, it can seem daunting to find exactly what you are looking for, as well as what solutions will work in your home. By way of this article, you can begin to build a solid foundation of knowledge for making your home a green energy environment.

Use solar-powered lamps for outdoor lighting. Not only are they a reasonable purchase price, but they do not require electricity to run. This does more than just save energy. It will also save you money by not having to wire the outdoor lights to your home.

Changing your heating to solar water can reduce the price to heat your water, hot tub and pool. Using gas or electricity to heat water isn’t efficient. However, solar water heaters use the sun to make water comfortable and reduce energy consumption. While some upgrades cost more initially, they can qualify you for deductions on your tax return for using green energy.

Shade your windows from excessive amounts of sunlight to improve the energy efficiency of your home. Do this by installing blinds or curtains. Doing these things will let you use less air conditioning in the summer. Not only does this conserve energy, but it lowers your utility bills.

Start paying attention to your energy consumption. Unplug the charger for your iPod and XBox when they are not in use. Charging devices for several common types of electronics, including laptops, cell phones, and MP3 players all draw “phantom power” if you keep them plugged in while they are idle.

Pay attention to local and federal rebates for renewable energy updates on your home. Sometimes, your local utility company can give you a rebate based on what the upgrades cost. In some cases, there could be credits or tax deductions either from the federal or state government. These rebates and credits can substantially reduce the cost of installing green energy technology in your home.

If you’re unsure about green investments, get an expert to provide a consultation that will optimize your energy usage. They will let you know how much you can save by upgrading to more efficient appliances and systems, and also give you a good idea of how much it will cost.

Leave yourself reminder notes to decrease energy usage, and frequently compare past bills with current ones to see if you’re making strides. By being conscious of how you use energy, you can help significantly reduce the amount of energy you consume. Your deliberate efforts to reduce your electricity or water consumption will have a significant impact on your ability to form habits out of turning off lights and shutting down appliances.

Biofuels can be used to heat your home. This type of fuel is made of oils, wood and vegetable or animal fats. If you have a propane furnace, a professional will be able to adjust your system so you can heat your home using a fuel blend. You would be able to use anywhere from 20 to 99 percent biodiesel. Always speak with a professional who will guide you in how to properly use this type of fuel.

The venerable habit of turning of unnecessary lights when leaving a room is still very effective. It’s surprising how much energy is conserved after turning the lights off. You also will be saving money when it comes to your power bill.

Try a water-saving commode in your bathroom. It’s estimated that as much as fifty percent of your water usage comes from the toilet. An older model uses 5 gallons of water per flush, whereas a water-saving model only uses 1.6 gallons, saving about 70 percent on your yearly water use.

When you are shopping for items made of wood, consider things made from bamboo. Bamboo is technically grass, yet it is a lot stronger than a most of the wood you’ll find. Bamboo is becoming very popular and growing to be made for cutting boards for hard wood floors. This saves energy, as bamboo is easy to produce and can be recycled.

Replace your old windows with newer, energy-efficient windows. There are many benefits to using these windows–you will see smaller energy bills, your home will be more quiet, you will not have as much carbon dioxide, and you will see less condensation on your windows.

Energy Star

All energy efficient products will include the Energy Star designation and logo. The guidelines that ENERGY STAR appliances must meet are set by the U.S. Department of Energy in addition to those of the Environmental Protection Agency. These products are also often the only ones eligible for tax rebates.

For room that are heavily occupied, add motion detecting light sensors. These sensors automatically shut off the lights to vacant rooms, which saves both energy and money. Don’t forget to use this with outdoor lighting!

Heat each room separately to save heating costs. The best method for doing this is by getting a heating solution for your floor that gives you the opportunity to monitor many different areas of your home and choose specific temperatures. For large homes, this is especially useful.

Although researching the many green energy technologies can be a bore, putting the tips that you learned in this article to use in your home will be fun! These ideas boast affordable and simple ways to help transform your home and life into a more green and energy efficient environment. Not only will the environment thank you, but your family will, as well.