5 Green Energy & Fuel Saving Tips

More and more people are getting interested in going green - not just because it's good for the planet, but also because it can save you a lot of money. And with the sky-rocketing costs of energy and fuel, this is one area where you might want to seriously consider going green, especially if you're looking to save money.

Worldwide Renewable energy, existing capacities, at end of 2008. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The problem with the current energy sources that we use is that most of them are based on fossil fuels, which means they are not renewable energy resources. So when they are gone they are gone, and that makes them a hot commodity. Of course since we're already hooked up "to the grid” so to speak, this makes using other renewable energy sources to power our homes and cars a bit more difficult. It is not impossible, though.
Here are 5 tips for "going green" with energy and fuel.

1. Call your electric company. They might already be offering some renewable energy sources. And if they aren't offering anything now, that doesn't mean they won't be in the future. You can make a small investment in the future of renewable energy with your electric company by switching to a greener energy choice if they offer it, and expressing your interest in doing so in the future so they are aware of the demand.

2. Install solar panels on your home. This will help you to rely less on the “grid” system of the utility company. While up front there is a large cost to this, there are also tax breaks and incentives through the government for making these kinds of efforts to save our resources. You can often save up to 2/3 of the cost of a remodel like this. And after that initial investment the cost to power your home is free! 

3. Use geothermal energy to heat your home and provide hot water. Geothermal energy is the earth's heat. Install a ground source heat pump to heat and cool your home with. Again, there is an up-front cost, but these systems usually last a good 30 years with little to no maintenance, and you won't have to pay the high costs of heating and cooling bills during that time!

4. Get a wood stove. This is a great way to heat your home, especially if you live in an area where wood is readily available. And many of the newer wood stoves give off little smoke and ash, and are very efficient.

2010 Honda Insight. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

5. Purchase a green vehicle. Having a smart car or other energy-efficient car offers many perks. Save money at the pump and you can even receive tax breaks and incentives again if you purchase a green vehicle.

While we might not be quite there in the technology to have everyone fully switch over to using green energy and fuel, it is most definitely becoming more and more achievable. And the government recognizes the importance of doing this to keep us from using up all of the earth's resources to fuel our lives, so you can often receive rebates or tax incentives for making the switch to a greener energy choice. Options are out there - and in the long run, they can save you quite a bit of money. 

Even if you can't make huge changes to your lifestyle and home, that doesn't mean you can't do something. If you can't install solar panels on your home, that's okay; you can at least use the sun to your advantage. In the winter months, opening your blinds to let the sun in during the day will help heat your home - therefore using less heat, saving you money, and helping to save the environment - all for no cost!

You can also use public transportation or a bicycle whenever possible to get yourself around. Carpooling too is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint on the planet. Any one of these things is a great way to turn your life in a green direction to help make sure there is a healthy planet for our future generations to enjoy.