Incorporating solar energy into your home

Solar energy
Sun-powered electricity, harnessed by solar panels on the roof, can run all your house's appliances and heat water for the bathroom and kitchen. In a solar hot water heater, the sun directly heats up water in small pipes, which is stored in a tank for later use, usually in conjunction with a gas or electrical heater to boost the temperature of the water. Photovoltaic cells on the roof convert the sun's energy to electricity, which can be diverted to the refrigerator, stereo system, and washing

Every little bit counts
You'll be surprised at how quickly even small savings turn into big ones—for both you and the environment.
• Install a solar or energy-efficient hot-water heater. Since water heating accounts for up to 50 percent of a home's energy use, installing one of these heaters saves in energy bills, as well as pollution.
• Choose energy-efficient appliances when buying new ones. Toprated refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, dryers, dishwashers, and air-conditioners are much less polluting and also cheaper to run.
• Install a water-efficient showerhead. These usually pay for themselves in the first year of use. The shower is the largest user of household hot water and accounts for around 20 percent of the greenhouse pollution in the average home. These showerheads use less water, reducing both pollution and heating costs.
• Insulate your home. Save on heating and cooling bills, as well as the pollution these processes produce.
• Consider ways of adding thermal mass to your home if you live in a climate with cool winters. Thermal mass describes heavy building materials such as brick, stone, or thick ceramic tiles that are slow to heat and slow to cool. In the winter they warm up during the day and continue to radiate heat in the evening, while in summer they protect against excessive heat, especially when shaded. New brick, tile, or concrete flooring is an obvious way of adapting an existing home to include greater thermal mass.
• Use appliances only when you really need them. For instance, use a broom in the garden, not a motorized leaf blower.
• Use appliances efficiently and maintain them well so they work optimally.
• Defrost your freezer every three months to prolong its life and ensure maximum efficiency.
• Don't leave the refrigerator door open unnecessarily. For every minute it is open, it takes three minutes to cool down again.
• Turn off your refrigerator when you go on vacation.
• Turn off lights when they are not in use.
• Replace your most frequently used light bulbs with compact fluorescents: each bulb uses around a quarter of the electricity needed for a standard bulb and will prevent the emission of half a ton or a ton of greenhouse pollution over the life of the bulb. If you fit all your lamps and lights with energy-efficient bulbs, you could reduce your lighting costs by 80 percent.
• Unplug microwaves, TVs, and stereo systems—they use power even when they are not operating.
• Wash clothes in cold water if you’re satisfied with the result. Consider presoaking heavily soiled garments first.
• Wear adequate clothing when the weather cools and don’t attempt to heat the entire house to the same temperature. Keep one or two rooms cosy by shutting the doors to the rest of the house.