When it comes to going green, many people are now thinking of powering their households and buildings with alternative sources of energy as threats of global warming continue to hog the headlines all over the world. But before you could even invest in one of those energy efficient technologies, you should know what is appropriate for your lifestyle. Before you invest in green power sources, you can learn to make small changes in what you normally do or use.

Apart from switching to green energy sources, reducing your energy consumption should also help you to trim your energy bills and greenhouse emission output. As most of the households and buildings are connected to conventional power grids, the only most logical thing to do is to make sure that we use less energy as much as possible. Here’s a look at some tips to help you in your pursuit to go green—whether at home or outside, and reduce this global warming phenomenon.

• Use solar energy. You can use either the active and passive solar energy. Active solar energy is taken through the solar cells, known as photovoltaic cells, and stored later to supply heat or electricity as a supplement to conventional electric systems or heating. Before you purchase a solar technology for your house or building, you must take note of the following things: the restrictions on the type and size of collectors your town permits and that the amount of sunshine your place will receive will definitely impact how much power level you can get, and the technology’s energy efficiency will vary depending on the location, size, and amount of power you intend to get.
• Switch from oil to biofuel.  Homes can be heated up using non-toxic and renewable biofuels such as those produced from vegetable and animal fats and oils. If you use oil to heat, consult with a technician and have him checked your furnace and discuss your plan to switch to a blend of 20-99% biodiesel. Having woodstove to heat your house has been used before. However, its modern alternative is now the pellet stove. Pellets from compressed sawdust takes less space than a traditional wood pile and they burn with little carbon emissions.  
• Look for green power. You can start by asking your local provider if they offer a “green” alternative. There are numerous companies who have answered to calls from environmentalists to utilize green technology, and many of them have already harnessed renewable energy sources like solar or wind power to provide electric services to their consumers.
• Maximize wind power. Wind energy has been proven to be one of the cleanest source of renewable energy readily available, and using it can help trim down electric bills by as much as 90%. If your community allows the installation of wind turbines in your area, then ensure that you have ample space to put it on.
• Utilize the benefits of hydropower. A property needs to have a running water before you can install a hydropower technology. If you have a river, stream or creek near your property, then using a micro hydropower system may be the one for you. 

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