Going Green Tips

[bandito]

I have recently been working on making my house more energy efficient. I started building my own solar panels and am very excited about building them and starting to power my house with them. I am making this post to ask people for advice on other things I can do to make my home greener. If you having suggestions please post them in a reply! Thanks!

[Aussie Bob]

I have recently been working on making my house more energy efficient. I started building my own solar panels and am very excited about building them and starting to power my house with them. I am making this post to ask people for advice on other things I can do to make my home greener. If you having suggestions please post them in a reply! Thanks!

Welcome to SPT.

How many solar panels have you built and how are you connecting them to your house?

Energy conversation is a great place to start to make your home greener. It doesn't cost anything and everyone can do it now. Turning off appliances at the wall such as the TV can make a big difference when it comes to saving energy. Appliances that are on standy mode, still use some power, and these appliances are usually on standby mode for long periods of time. Also replacing your lightbulbs with energy efficient bulbs is also a great step to being "greener".

[lilypotter]

Hi Bandito,
I have few tips to make your home green.

1.Replace your incandescent light bulbs with Energy Star qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs to save $100 per year.
2. Save 10% on your heating and cooling costs just by setting your thermostat back when you're not home and while you're sleeping.
3. Install weatherstripping and caulk to stop those expensive drafts and improve comfort. To avoid air leaks
4. HVAC maintenance is key to healthy and efficient heating and cooling.
5. Select low or no-VOC paints and finishes to combat health hazard. When selecting paints, look for the Green Seal.
6. Shade trees can significantly lower your cooling costs by up to 25% . They also make your home more comfortable, and provide habitat for song birds. In addition, properly placed trees and shrubs act as windbreaks, shielding your home from cold winds and reducing heating costs by 20%.

These are few tips to make your home green.

[Drew@solarmaxaz]

I have a master switch for each room for all the things in them, it has saved me about 5 to 10% on my energy bill.

Also using insulation in the attic will reduce costs even more.

[solarlightingplanet]

I work in the field, so I bought an attic fan which saves me a ton of energy during the summer time, and I also have a few skylights in my home. Those are two of my favorite solar products so far.