Energy is a very expensive and necessary thing in our lives. This article will help you make your house more energy efficient.
Energy is a very expensive and necessary thing in our lives. This article will help you make your house more energy efficient.
Using energy from solar is very good alternative to the current energy resource for electricity. A good solar power system can really generate a good amount of electricity that could help you to reduce your electric bill by 70% to 90% some of these systems are so good the Electric Companies are paying money back to the owners for putting electric back on to the grid. The other non-tangible benefit of the electricity produced from solar sources is that, we protect our environment with the cleanest energy resource on our planet.
Ok I can here the cries of "how much would all this cost to change to solar power "well the honest answer would be it depends, "depends on what", depends on how you go about it,how big your premises are,to what degree of energy you want to convert to solar power and wether you want to do it yourself or pay people to make and install for you. To be honest I guess a full system made and installed for you would be around $20,000 maybe more maybe less but your savings on bills plus tax incentives, "According to the Appraisal Journal, any improvement to a home that saves money on electricity expenditures increases property value by a ratio of 20:1. This means every dollar saved on electricity expenditures on an annual basis increases your property value by $20. So, if you save $1000 a year on electricity expenditures with your solar power system, your property value will increase by $20,000. Sound too good to be true? Well, think of it like this: You have the option of purchasing two homes, one that has no electric bill or one that will cost thousands per year to live in. The choice is simple. Also, according to the State Law, any increase in property value due to your solar power system is exempt from property taxes. You cannot lose with solar power", this would surely outweigh the initial cost.
A cheaper option would be to build homemade solar panels,this is an excellent way to save money and protect the environment at the same time. Making your own solar panels is not as difficult as it may sound. Some of the things you will need are: an electric stove, copper wires, a micro-meter etc. These materials can be easily found in any hardware store. To build your own solar panels you will need to make solar cells, connect them in series and also connect the solar panels to one another. After that you should connect the solar panels to a battery and an inverter that will convert the solar energy into usable form for home use. It may take you a few days to complete the project, but it is definitely much better to do it yourself instead of paying up to $3000 for 1 ready made solar panel.
At the end of the day it all depends on how much of your home you want to convert to how much you will have to spend but remember this,the more you spend on solar energy the more you will save on your electric bills for years to come.
by arnold j rimmer, on November 24 2008 @ 1:53 pm
what is the best way to make a house energy efficient?
im using energy saving bulbs
have got cavity walls insulated
ive doudle glazed windows
what else can i do?
by hindu lover, on November 24 2008 @ 6:55 pm
use candles
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by mrqprfc, on November 24 2008 @ 6:57 pm
go in the loft and knock the dividing wall down to the neighbours and take a very long extension lead with you …. then just use their electric ..problem solved
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by hugh_laur, on November 24 2008 @ 6:59 pm
going to natural gas and appliances help. Cost at first but saves in the long run.
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go to http://www.askthebuilder.com. He can also help you our.
by irish dubliner, on November 24 2008 @ 7:01 pm
Turn off lights when not needed, install solar power panels on your roof, dont leave any t.v's on standby mode
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by ustaadji, on November 24 2008 @ 7:03 pm
adjust your heating times and temperature.keep thermostat to 1 degree less than normal
avoid using kettle for tea
shower instead of bath
get aspecial water-saving shower
optimize cooking to balance microwaving leftovers versus cooking fresh only
loadup your freezer but keep the refrigerator as empty as possible
switch off tv,pc,music systems and their accessories/chargers when not in use
do not dry clothers on radiators
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by norag, on November 24 2008 @ 7:05 pm
make sure ur windows AND doors have no leaks on any of the tops or sides.. move ur hot water temperature down be it gas or electric. make sure ur washing machine and dishwasher if u have them are full, make sure ur dryer lint screen is clean so it doesn't have to work harder. and turn ur heat or a/c up or down depending on the weather. down for heat, up for a/c. good luck
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by sweettoni37, on November 24 2008 @ 7:07 pm
turn off all lights in rooms that are not being used
unplug appliance's when not in use
Have Temperture set at 68 degrees doing the winter months
Have Temperture set at 70 in the Summer months
Hope this HELPS
Oh Night lights @ night forthe kids
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by michael b, on November 24 2008 @ 7:09 pm
Loft insulation is probably the most important thing.
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by everyfinandeveryfin, on November 24 2008 @ 7:11 pm
as your house is pretty well sussed try a few lifestyle tips as well,
1. always turn the lights off when not in use,
2. use fluorescents and don't turn them off (they still last for years and turning them on and off 3 times a day uses more electricity than leaving them on all the time)
3. buy a "heat pump" for heating (try a search engine)
4. turn all electrical goods off (not on standby) as this uses up to 80% of the electricity as when the object is on
5. use curtains
6. solar panels for water heating (also a "heat pump" is good for this)
7. loft insulation
8. seal draughts (accounts for anything up to 40% of heat loss)
9. can't be arsed anymore
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my dope head
by jimbo81uk, on November 24 2008 @ 7:13 pm
If you have one, make sure your hot water tank in your airing cupboard is fully insulated with a jacket.
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by macdoodle, on November 24 2008 @ 7:15 pm
making sure all the place is weatherised /sealed around the doors and windows.
some energy companies will come out and test energy efficiency free and some repair is free depending on where you live.
also replace old appliances.
your local govt and energy provider should have the info
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by ricerfuel, on November 24 2008 @ 7:17 pm
Don't touch electric heaters with a barge pole, dont buy a widescreen tv as they sap power. Make sure you turn your appliances off, not leave them on standby. Draft stoppers on the front and back door, will stop any nasty drafts. Make sure theres insulation in the loft and thick curtains to cover the windows at night. Hmm a water butt for the garden attached to your guttering means watering the garden is free. A brick in the toilet cistern will save a few litres of water. Probably the best way to save energy is not to use it in the first place. Carpets keep the floor warm but rugs in good spots are just as good. A-Energy rated appliances will save you money in the long run but unless you recycle your old one, the toxic chemicals wont benefit the environment.
Theres also plenty of renewable energy sources such as mini wind turbines and solar panels. Geothermal enegry from underground is cheap but its best to have a bit of land to spead it out over. They may be costly now and require planning permission so it may be best to wait for the prices to drop.
Excuse my rambling
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by rpoker, on November 24 2008 @ 7:19 pm
new high eff furnace change all the old bulbs to the new kind,keep lights off when your not useing them.weather stripping around doors and windows
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by rach2513, on November 24 2008 @ 7:21 pm
switch off all sockets at night – have a shower not a bath – before puttin on the heating put on a billion layers of clothes – RECYCLE – work away from home then you wont have any bills -lol
get an induction hob as they are 98% efficient – and get a ''smart box'' to monitor your electric consumption which will make your ears prick up when you see what you are wasting by keeping sockts and lights etc switched on blahblah
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by LOW, on November 24 2008 @ 7:23 pm
Look up POROTON, that is a man made material for building homes that has an extremely high installation coefficient.
That means, it keeps out both cold and heat, nearly eliminating the need for energy to support warmth or coolness.
Insulate completely outside wall and the total roof.
Use floor heating with water to heat the house, requires a very low water temperature. You cannot walk on floors heated with HOT water! Does not require oil heater!
Use Solar panels to support electricity requirements.
Build house with full basement and finish the basement. But bedroom and master bath in this lower area. Little or no need for heating or cooling.
Germany beats America to death when it comes to building energy efficient homes!
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by MICHAEL M, on November 24 2008 @ 7:25 pm
I would suggest going to your local authority, they will tell you all you need to know AND they are giving money away for these things like money is going out of fashion! Environmental issues are all the rage with government and local authorities. Try your hand its amazing what you can get if you ask. Don't ask don't get! simple as that
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