Home energy savings doesn’t necessarily equate to cutting your cost but cutting your input towards destroying the planet. These slight changes in your lifestyle will create a wonderful difference on our planet earth. If you are willing to bring in a harmonised living between your lifestyle and the planet, this article will guide you through five simple steps to enable you to save home energy.
1. Switch to LED Lighting
Perhaps the simplest energy-saving solution: LEDs instead of regular incandescent bulbs. LEDs consume up to 90% less energy than regular bulbs and even have much longer lifetimes. While slightly more expensive initially, their reduced energy use and increased lifespan mean costing much less in the long term. In addition to saving money, replacing bulbs decreases electricity demand and, consequently, the pollutant emissions used in electricity generation.
2. Unplug Electronics
You probably didn’t know this: Many of your home electronics continue to draw electricity even when they are not turned on. It is referred to as phantom energy, and it occurs via having items such as your TV, computer, and phone chargers constantly plugged in. This type of energy is wasted needlessly when nothing is being used. The easiest method of conserving phantom energy without a loss of convenience is turning off power strips that have many devices connected to them.
3. Use Smart Power Strips
Smart power strips take energy efficiency to the next level. While a conventional power strip is only convenient, a smart power strip actually turns off the power supply to devices that are idle. There are also some more expensive models that can even detect when a device is fully charged and will turn off the power supply in such a case. This handy device can help a great deal in avoiding wasteful energy consumption, particularly in households where there are quite a number of devices and gadgets that are plugged into the walls.
4. Replace Windows and Doors
Drafty windows and doors are stealthy contributors to increased energy use. Loss of heat during winter and the passage of air in summer make your HVAC work more, meaning your utility cost will rise. To remedy, inspect your windows and doors for drafts and close them up using weatherstripping or caulk. Double-glazed windows are also more energy-efficient insulators compared to single-pane windows, so it is likely that investing in energy efficient window installation will pay off in terms of saving money in the future.
5. Adjust Your Thermostat
Minor adjustments to your thermostat can result in enormous savings on energy. Lower your thermostat by a few degrees in winter and raise it by a few degrees in summer when you are home. Reduce the temperature even more when you leave the house or go to bed to save even more energy. For extra convenience, link a programmable thermostat that manages energy conservation automatically by your schedule. It not only saves the planet, but it also saves money on energy in the long term.
The Time to Act is Now
Saving energy is a simple thing that we can all do to make the world a better world. Adopting even some of these habits will not only save you money, but also reduce your carbon emissions and the burden on the world’s energy resources. Let us now be intelligent about using energy and spread these tips among our neighbours. We can all make homes that are more earth-friendly.