Going Green For Good

It is a concept that has been around for a long while now and is increasingly gaining importance. Green energy is the creation of energy in a manner that reduces the brunt of its negative impact on the surroundings. Some of the traditional sources of energy are notorious for the greenhouse gases that they cause. There are several sources of green energy that we are familiar with. Solar, wind, geothermal as well as hydro-energy are all great sources of alternative energy. The waste produced in the creation of energy from these sources is minimal compared to oil and coal.

So what exactly does this mean for you? Installation of green energy systems has a way of decreasing a home's dependency on the power grid. It reduces the carbon footprint emitted from your home and makes your electricity bills something to smile about at the end of the month. Whether you are in college or close to retirement, switching to green energy solutions can only be beneficial.

Financial Considerations

One of the first things most people worry about is the initial cost of switching a home to solar power. The average cost is around $8 to $9 for every watt of power and approximately 30% more for the associated installation of batteries. This may come across as rather expensive, but the fact is that such a system will pay for itself in a short amount of time.

Such systems especially make sense for those families that are close to retirement and want to have cost-effective methods in place to help their finances maintain some stability. If you do find that such installation is expensive, you can alter things one room at a time, until you have made the transition. Or you could start with the outdoor lighting of your home. Many people hesitate to light up the outside of their homes and consider it to be a frivolous expense. However, with solar lighting, you can have a great source of light that will not affect your bills. It keeps anti-social elements at bay and allows your home to stay safe.

Heat with Bio-fuels

Another great use of green technology is the concept of using bio-fuels to heat up your home. These are comprised of wood, oil and also fat. If you have one of the usual propane based systems in your home, then the switch can easily be made to allow you to use a blend of all these fuels. You instantly reduce your heating bill and carbon footprint.

Tax Incentives

The good thing about using green technology, especially if you are a business owner, is that you get tax incentives for doing so. All you need to do is avoid the use of fossil fuels, and you will be able to give your brand a complete makeover. The same applies to your home as well. If you ever decide to put it on the market, the presence of a green technology system will ensure that it commands a better market value.

Home Insulation

Even the amount of green energy you use can be controlled. If you insulate your home well, especially with R rated insulation systems, you can ensure not only security but also balanced temperatures in the house, and this will reduce your dependency on air-conditioning. Having programmable thermostats installed in your homes too can make a world of difference to the way energy is consumed. This way you can regulate the intensity of usage of power.

Changing small things in the house -- using CFLs, taking all your gadgets off standby mode or shutting them down instead of leaving them on indefinitely, especially when you go to bed at night. All of these moves can help you contribute to the preservation of the environment.

Author BioWilliam Stevens is a writer who creates informative articles in relation to technology. In this article, he explains a few benefits of going green and aims to encourage further study through online electrical engineering colleges.