3 Ways To Go Green And Save Energy At Home

Are you serious about saving on your power bills? The good news is that you can not only save on your energy consumptions but you can be green in the process and significantly reduce your carbon footprint. While most people pledge their commitment to help save the planet, very few are prepared to take the necessary steps to actually do it. Burning fossil fuels is not only bad for the planet but its extremely expensive.

Its estimated that if we use just 70% of all the roof space in a city like London we can generate enough solar energy to fulfill more than 50% of the power needs of the city. While a lot of green energy has become catch phrases and cliche's in our modern culture the fact remains that you can get practical about it and save a lot in the process.

So, what can you do at your home to utilize free energy sources? Here are 3 great suggestions that you can start using almost immediately.

1. Solar Hot Water Systems

One of the biggest energy consumers in any home is the hot water system. Heating water takes a lot of energy and regardless of the system you use it uses a lot of power to fill your bath and wash your dishes. If a family of 5 each takes 2 showers a day then that is a lot of hot water. Multiply that over a week, a month and a year and you will see just how it adds up. Installing a hot water system can make a huge difference. It basically uses the heat from the sun to warm up water and then stores it for when its needed. Although it does not heat it up to high temperatures, it does get warm enough to take a serious load off your electric or gas system.

2. Solar Panels

While a solar hot water system relies on the energy of the sun to generate heat, Photovoltaic cells allow us to convert the sun's energy into electricity. Solar panels is probably the oldest form of passive energy but its only in recent years that its become very efficient - and affordable for home use. Depending on your energy consumption you can generate as much as 75% of your home's electricity needs through solar energy alone.

3. Wind Turbines

Wind energy is one of the most untapped energy sources in nature and while so-called wind farms are springing up everywhere there is an opportunity for you to use this technology at home. Windmills have been around for ages and by using the same principle you can use the wind to generate electricity at your home. By installing a wind turbine on your roof you can capture this energy and convert it into electricity that either feeds directly into your home's supply or gets stored in batteries for when you need it.

Read more about wind turbines and how to make a wind turbine...