Everything requires electricity from charging a small watch to running an AC in your house and it costs a lot of pence. And, you always wonder how to save money without disturbing your lifestyle. Because everything we have with us is today’s demand. There is no need to try hundreds or thousands of methods to bring your home on an energy diet to save money. You can adopt some small changes to bring your home to an energy-efficient diet and see the visible changes in your electricity bills. But, what are some of the energy tips to introduce in your life? Will it be a big deal to you? A Big No
The first and foremost change starts with you. Adopt these good habits like turning off the appliances or lights when not in use. It is good to find out which devices are eating up more electricity like AC in summers and Heater in winters. Heating and cooling devices contribute more than half to spiking up the energy bill. So, turn down the heat on your thermostat and try to use less AC in the summer.
Plus, there are appliances available in the market which tell about the electricity consumption by appliances in the home.
Traditional bulbs consume more energy than light bulbs. There are lots of options available in the market to replace traditional bulbs like Halogen incandescent bulbs, compact fluorescent light(CFLs), and light-emitting diode bulbs(LEDs), which consume 25-80% less electricity and run up to 3 to 25 times more than traditional bulbs.
Then, what are you waiting for to switch your bulbs now?
It is always advisable to unplug the devices when not in use because it is estimated that 75% of the electricity is used by the electronics when they are switched off. What if you forgot? Here is a solution for you. Use Smart Power Strips. Smart Power Strips or advanced power strips eliminate the problem of unplugging the gadgets on time. You can set the time on smart power strips to turn off at an assigned time when the gadget is not in use. You can control the device through a remote or master device.
A Smart Thermostat has the unique attribute to attract you to buy right now. You can set it to turn down heating and cooling when not in use or you are away from it. With the installation of a Programmable thermostat, you can save energy use from heating or cooling without upgrading to the HVAC system.
It is estimated that a programmable thermostat can save up 180$ per year. Another interesting feature of a Smart thermostat is that you can set your preferences every week. Plus, it is fitted with indicators to replace air filters or HVAC systems, which would improve the efficiency of heating or cooling.
If new appliances are in queue to be purchased then go for appliances, which are energy efficient. It is estimated that 13% of total household energy is consumed by appliances. The cost of energy-efficient appliances is slightly higher than conventional models, which would have a long-term effect on your energy saving. For instance, energy-efficient refrigerators use 9% less energy than conventional models.
When considering energy-efficient models, you should look for Energy Star labels on appliances. Energy Star labels, which is a federal guarantee of the appliance using less energy.
Heating water in winter contributes a major part to household energy consumption. Other than using energy-efficient appliances, there are other methods to reduce your heating up of water consumption. These are:
Choose your energy-efficient models according to your use. For instance, purchasing a tankless water heater is an energy-efficient appliance but it is not suitable for meeting up the requirements of large families. It is estimated that energy-efficient water heaters can save up to 8% to 300% more energy than conventional models.
It is better to use cold water instead of hot water to wash the clothes. About 90% of the energy used to heat the water is wasted during this process. It is possible to wash mixed clothes i.e. colored and white clothes in cold water in the machine. Do not hesitate to opt for the cold cycle whenever possible.
There are many devices in your home that need a filter, including HVAC. It is better to change or clean the filters from time to time. Doing so will save your energy consumption and save money. Many appliances come with a filter cleaner to clean their filters timely. According to a report by the Department of Energy, replacing or new filters from time to time could save your energy consumption up to 15%.
One of the best ways is to lighten your house with a natural source of light, sunlight. If it is possible to have your windows in a north-south direction, instead of east-west windows, then go for it. The windows facing the north-south direction let the light in morning and evening. But, east-west facing windows are not that effective to enter the sunlight.
The sealing of air leaks in your home is going to save a lot of heating and cooling expenses. The most common source of leaks are vents, windows, and doors. It is best to use caulk to seal the air leak between the window and the wall. Or you can use weather stripping for windows and doors.
Saving Energy will save you money, and time, and protect the environment by adopting these simple hacks in your life. Take a small step toward saving an energy-conscious lifestyle, and enjoy every perk of your life.