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Introducing green energy into your home is part of the process of reducing energy costs. A homeowner has many options that can be used to achieve this goal. Proper planning is required before homeowners introduce any type of green energy solutions for use at their home.
Research
The first step to introducing green energy into a home is to research available information. Homes use a wide variety of energy and the total amount of energy use needs to be known. This can be done with an energy audit of the home. The audit will measure all the energy used in the home and will show if there are any areas that need to be addressed.
Solar Heating
Supplemental heating for a home can be gained by installing a solar heating system. This is a high-tech option for providing additional heat to a home. These units are small-scale systems for spaces in a home that uses a solar collector to heat air or water. The use of solar heating is a cost-effective option for any homeowner who lives in a cold climate and receives a lot of sun. Solar heating is an alternative to home heating that is provided by fuel oil, propane and electricity.
Energy Products
Many utilities and retail energy companies offer green power products. This is when a homeowner has a choice to buy the electricity for their home from renewable sources. Green power products do not use fossil fuels for any energy production. Examples of this are energy that is created from wind generators and hydro-power. There are more than 25 utility companies nationally that offer green power products and countless retailers that offer green products for those living in deregulated states. For example, when looking at energy rates, New York has special offers now.
Energy Certificates
These are available to homeowners from various marketers that offer these certificates for sale. Homes can use these certificates to offset their energy use. A local utility company may also offer a certificate to a homeowner who wants to offset their energy use with renewable energy. There is a tool that is provided by the EPA that can be used to locate utilities and marketers that sell renewable energy certificates.
On-Site Generation
There are many high-tech options that can be installed in a home to generate green energy. There is the option to install solar panels to generate power and even wind generators. A homeowner can choose to install renewable energy generation systems to reduce reliance on conventional electricity. Costs of installation of these systems are typically offset by the energy that is produced. One benefit of using on-site renewable power generation is that excess power can be sold to the utility company for a credit on a customer’s monthly bill.
Additional Information
Homeowners who need help to make their home more energy efficient can use the Home Tool provided by Energy Star. The use of green energy in a home helps to reduce the impact on the environment. This results in decreased energy costs and knowledge of using a green energy solution.
