Do you want a more Energy-Efficient Home? Here are 10 Smart & Simple Ways for you!
Energy prices are rising and the global climate is constantly changing. The more people take energy efficiency more seriously the lesser of an impact we can have on the world around us. Yet, how often do you actually think about making your home more energy efficient? Here are some smart and simple ways to save the world – one house at a time.
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Get Insulated Glass Windows
When cold air comes in contact with warm glass it will try to move from the cold space into the warm space. It does this by moving through the small gap of air that is between the window panes. When this happens, you are wasting valuable energy in keeping your home warm. However, if you have insulating glass windows there is a special plastic film inserted in-between each pane of glass that eliminates any air gap. This way when cold air tries to move into your house it can’t – in turn, saving you money in your energy bill.
Install a Programmable Thermostat
A programmable thermostat is exactly what it sounds like. It allows you to program what temperature you want the house to be at when you get home from work and while you’re sleeping. Not only will this save you money, but it will also lower your overall energy use. Most of the time people set their thermostats between 76 and 80 degrees when they leave for work in the morning. This is completely unnecessary as you’re either not home or sleeping.
Use Shorter Wash Cycles
Many people have the tendency to overload the washing machine and fill the water up to the brim. The problem with this is that when you use a lot of water it will take a longer time for your clothes to wash and for the water to drain – in turn, using more energy. If you have a front-loading machine, keep an eye on how much water actually comes into contact with your clothes so they can get clean. Using too much detergent or fabric softener will add excess suds/friction which in turn increases energy usage as well.
Install Solar Panels
This may not be possible for everyone, but if you’re serious about making your home more efficient then why not go green? Installing solar panels onto your house allows using solar electricity in order to help power your home when the sun is shining. This in turn lowers your overall energy bill, allowing you to pay off your solar panels faster than if you used normal electricity.
Put on Your Shades
On sunny summer days, many people like to let in all the warm air and light by opening up every window they can. While this may make you feel good about making use of natural resources, it actually does more harm than good in the long run. When you open up windows during the hot months, cool air will come into contact with warmer surfaces which then causes heat loss – lowering the internal temperature of your home while heating up everything outside. The easiest way to fix this problem is by investing in some nice thick shades for your windows. This way you can keep the sun’s rays out of your house, lower heating costs during winter, and still enjoy the beauty of summer all year round.
Reduce Your Hot Water Usage
Hot water is known to be one of the main culprits for increased energy usage in homes today. That being said, it is also very simple to fix this problem by simply taking shorter showers or turning off the hot water heater altogether when not needed. If you do have a dishwasher, try scheduling it at night so that you’re not heating up excess amounts of water during the daytime hours when demand for hot water is much less – thus saving money on utility bills as well as lowering your carbon footprint.
Clean Your Vents
If you have a forced-air heating system, the heat needs to be vented outside your house. If these vents are not located properly or are covered by dust bunnies then you’ll find yourself with very inefficient heating. A dirty filter won’t allow proper airflow through the vents which in turn causes more energy to be used in order to maintain the same temperature inside. Keeping your vents clean can help reduce this problem as well as keep your room warm during wintertime.
Water Wisely
It goes without saying that water is an absolutely essential part of life. However, it takes lots of energy to pump all that water around – especially if you don’t know how much water you really need to use for your household chores. Using excess water for showers, dishwashing, laundry machines, etc. will lead to higher energy usage as well as costs. Reducing your hot water temperature by 3-4 degrees can help reduce energy use and still allow you to get clean in the process. It may not seem like much but it all adds up over time; especially when you consider that most homes boil their water before using it during any of these processes.
Change Your Lightbulbs
It’s simple – if you use more efficient light bulbs (such as LED light bulbs) then they’ll consume less electricity than normal incandescent bulbs which takes more energy to power them on in the first place. This really is just common sense at play here, but sometimes you do need to be reminded of it. If you’re looking for more efficient light bulbs, then try LED light bulbs which are not only the most energy-efficient option available today but also come at a very affordable price point as well (although prices may fluctuate depending on your specific market).
Don’t Overdo It!
Sometimes people go overboard when it comes to making their home more energy-efficient, either by trying too hard or simply purchasing overpriced products that don’t make much sense in regards to efficiency anyway. While going overboard certainly isn’t a bad thing, there is such a thing as being “too green”. Purchasing green products and technology does have a place in this world – however, it’s important not to throw your money away on products that will do nothing but make a stylish statement in your home. Try to make a little bit of effort into energy efficiency and you’ll find that you’ve made more than just a style statement – saving the environment while reducing your bills is all part of it. Energy efficiency is one of those things that people often overlook when considering how to get things done, yet at the same time, it’s very easy to implement if we simply try to think about our actions before we carry them out.
