Ways Renewable Energy Can Save You Money

Everyone wants to save money. No one wants to spend more money than they need to, especially during these difficult and uncertain times. When most people think about ways to save money, they think of skipping luxuries like dining out or canceling subscriptions to cut down on monthly expenses. While those methods can save you some money, there are more ways to help your bottom line. Saving money isn’t only limited to cutting out things or limiting your current expenses; you can save money by spending money to set up a new system to save money in the long run. By using renewable energy, you can save money without sacrificing the things you enjoy.

Propane As An Alternative Fuel

Water heaters are often unseen, and homeowners only think about them when something goes wrong. Most homeowners accept the water heater that came with their home and only think about it or replace it in the event of a malfunction. Old water heaters do the job, but they are very energy inefficient. If you want to save money over time and help the environment, it is time to switch to a residential propane water heater.

Propane water heaters cost more than other models, but propane is cheaper and more eco-friendly than alternatives because propane produces fewer emissions. Newer propane models are also up to date with efficiency standards with proper insulation to prevent heat from escaping the unit. Propane also sports a faster recovery time than other water heaters. A depleted 40-gallon propane water heater can recover in an hour and start providing hot water again. With all of these benefits and perks, a propane water heater approaches tankless performance, making it a fantastic choice for homeowners who want to save some money while helping the planet.

Solar Energy

When most people think about types of renewable energy, they think of roof-mounted solar panels. Roof-mounted solar panels are certainly an option for renewable energy, but they are not a simple addition. Solar panels absorb energy from the sun and convert it so your home can run off the power of sunlight, but solar panels are a serious and often expensive commitment.

You will need more than one solar panel to come close to running your whole home off of solar energy, which also means a price tag in the tens of thousands. That price tag is a serious commitment, but you are intended to keep your solar panels for 20+ years so you can pay off the system and reap the benefits. Solar panels will help you save money, but not until you pay off your system, which takes eight years on average. After you pay off the system, you are essentially generating free energy, but it takes commitment, money, and time to reach that point.

Changes Around Your House

Renewable energy is growing around the world, but not all methods are applicable for home use. Propane and solar are two ways to add renewable energy, but other options like wind or geothermal are not ready for residential setup. If you want to use less energy at home, you can add renewable energy and also make changes around your house to use less energy.

Lightbulbs have come a long way since the incandescent bulb was the standard. Now we have LED and CFL bulbs that shine brighter, use less energy and last longer than incandescent bulbs. Swapping out your old incandescent bulbs for LED or CFL bulbs will cut down on how much energy you use every day and add up to savings over time while giving you higher-quality lighting.

Properly insulation your house will keep air from escaping and outside air from getting in. This will lower your HVAC system’s workload, so it doesn’t have to work as hard to heat or cool your house. Some government programs incentivize people to insulate their homes to be more energy-efficient. Adding modern foam insulation and properly sealed double-pane windows will significantly boost your HVAC’s efficiency while making your home temperature more stable and comfortable. There is rarely a one-trick solution to saving money. Adding renewable energy to your home will save you money over time, but it will require an investment upfront. Adding a propane water heater or solar panels will save you money and energy, but only after paying off the initial price tag. You can make changes around your home to use less energy and therefore save money. Updating your home’s insulation and windows will lower how much energy your HVAC system uses. Swapping old incandescent bulbs for CFL or LED bulbs will reduce your costs over time by using less energy and replacing bulbs less frequently.