In this day and age, two things that definitely need improving are the economy and the environment. You can improve your personal economy and help the environment at the same time by converting many of the technologies in your home to green energy. Read on for some great advice on how to accomplish this.

If you are considering purchasing outdoor lighting look into solar lamps. These lamps are cheap and don’t require any power besides sun exposure. This will save you a ton of energy. As an added benefit, you are spared the trouble of running an outdoor wiring system.

When you can, wash your clothes using cold water. Almost 90% of energy used for doing laundry is due to heating the water. If you are using good quality washing detergent, cold water is effective. Also, be as energy efficient as possible by only washing full loads of clothing.

A helpful tip to live greener and conserve energy is to have the windows in your home tinted. The windows in your home act like glass in a greenhouse and when you want you home to be cool, the windows will heat it up and work against your air conditioner and cost you a bundle.

When building your home, pay attention to its orientation. An ideal home should be protected against overhead sun during the summer and be oriented so that it gets low-angle sun in the winter. This is a good way to save money on your heating bill and will keep your home cool in the summer.

If you have a dishwasher make sure you only run it when it is full. The energy used is the same whether you are washing a small load of dishes, or one that is larger. Try using the energy-saving air-drying setting on your dishwasher.

Remember that solar panels, whether you install them on your roof or anywhere else on your property, must be angled toward the sun to receive maximum exposure. In the Northern Hemisphere, this means facing them south with an angle of latitude plus fifteen degrees. Otherwise, your investment will not return as much energy as you hope.

Instead of using a desktop computer, which sucks up more electricity, buy a laptop. You will find yourself shaving 75 percent off of the amount of electricity used for computer usage, especially if you go on the internet often. The laptop has the added benefit of being portable, so you can use it anywhere!

If possible, try to use a laptop computer, rather than a desktop. And, if the battery is full on your laptop, do not have it plugged into the charger. Desktop computers are perhaps one of the biggest energy users in your home, which is why why having a laptop is beneficial.

A wind turbine could help you cut down your electric bill by as much as 90%. Before you invest in this type of equipment, find out if the wind is strong enough to produce the amount of energy you need and get a professional to help you choose the right size of turbine.

Take shorter showers to get greater advantage of green energy in your home! Heating hot water accounts for nearly 14% of the average household’s energy use and that can really add up. Cutting down on the time you spend in the shower will be better on the environment and your energy bills!

Research solar panels to see if an active or passive set-up is right for your needs. Using active power means storing energy for later use, while passive energy is about benefiting from the warmth or light of the sun rays right away. Active power uses solar panels, cells and mechanical systems. While when you use passive they use the thermal energy from the sun in order to store energy inside the walls of your house and heat your household with it.

To help you increase your clean-energy consumption, try using wind energy. Wind is a very clean type of alternative energy, and it can help you cut your electricity bill a ton. If this solution interests you, check with your local authority to ensure you have proper zoning and also ensure you have sufficient space.

Harnessing the amazing power of the wind can reduce the cost of supplying energy to your home by as much as 90% make certain your town or city does not have been zoning restrictions against wind turbines, and check with a professional first to make sure there is enough room on your property to accommodate the size of the necessary equipment.

After reading this article, you should have a very good idea of how to start making green energy a real part of your life. Take the tips laid out here and start using them to make your home and your life greener. Conserve energy and save yourself money by living the green way.