Researching renewable energy sources can be tricky as a ton of information is available, and it is difficult to know which sources you can rely on. By way of this article, you can begin to build a solid foundation of knowledge for making your home a green energy environment.

You could easily have solar panels in your house to collect energy from the sun for you to use. There are rain water tanks a few things to consider before installing them. The major thing you have to consider before going ahead with solar panels is the amount of sunlight your home gets over the course of a day. If you’re in a shady area, or a place that doesn’t have many sunny days, you won’t be able to gain as much power.

Are you living on a farm? You could rent a small portion of your property to an energy company willing to install a wind turbine. You and those around you can benefit from the free energy. A turbine doesn’t take up much space, either.

If possible, use cold water in your clothes washer. Almost 90% of energy consumption during clothes being washed is a result of the hot water usage. Just make sure you don’t harm your clothes in the process; check out the labels on your clothes and make a judgment for yourself. Furthermore, bear in mind that you will get maximum efficiency from washing a load that is full, rather then multiple small loads.

Instead of using the dryer, dry your laundry outdoors when weather permits. In addition to the energy savings, you clothes will smell incredible. They will smell a lot fresher than if you were to use a dryer. As well, you save quite a bit on monthly utility costs.

Consider how many hours of sunlight you can expect in the winter as you plan your solar system, so that you know how much energy you can expect it to generate. This prevents unpleasant surprises in the winter, and it saves money during the summer. Combining this method with a net utilities plan will mean getting back money from the electric company during the summer, too.

Batteries need to be situated closely to the cells in solar power systems. Doing this will help prevent power loss within the cable. The cable also is less likely to block power generation by providing shade if you do this.

In homes with storm doors and windows, air flow is controlled better. Storm doors and windows will reduce the entrance of drafts and cold air. Sometimes electric savings can be up to 45 percent on homes that have storm windows as opposed to single pane windows.

If you want to live greener and have a greener home, avoid running electric heaters during the winter. A fireplace for the living area, wearing warmer clothing and purchasing some slippers are all greener ways of keeping the family warm. You will breathe better during your sleep if the air is cool.

An easy way to cut energy costs and go green is to dress warm. By simply putting on a sweater, you can improve your heated temperature by between 2 to 4 degrees. Since it is pointless to wear very little clothing while indoors, you might as well wear a sweater.

When you exit a room, turn off the lights. You might be amazed at the amount of energy savings you can gain over time, simply by making it a point to turn off lights. Your power bills will also be significantly less.

Use automatic motion or sound sensors on the lights in high-traffic rooms. These sensors will automatically turn off the lights of rooms that are currently not in use, saving on energy and, in turn, a lot of money! Make sure your garage has outdoor lighting, as well.

Proper weatherization is a great way to make your home much more energy efficient, even if you are on a budget. Weatherizing your home by installing energy efficient windows and adding insulation will have a profound effect on your heating bills. The biggest benefit next to helping the environment is the money that you will save on energy costs.

You can shave a significant amount from your utility bills by installing a programmable thermostat. You can program your thermostats to use less energy when you are sleeping or are usually not home. You can actually help program them to manage temperatures in the day and night.

You can improve your home’s energy efficiency by being responsible with your lights. In the brighter months, don’t turn lights on until past a certain time. Dimmers can cut the amount of energy lights consume. You should also consider sensors that will turn off lights when people exit the room.

Reading through green energy forums online isn’t necessarily fun, but using the tips contained in the preceding article will be. The tips listed above are easy to understand, accurate, and best of all, they can help save the planet and while saving you some serious money. Both your family and the planet will benefit.