Reducing the energy that your home uses every day can add up, saving you money and helping the planet, which is why more and more people are embracing this idea.
Reduce Thermostat
In the winter, do not crank your thermostat up to 80 and run around in shorts and a t-shirt. Lowering your thermostat can save you tons on your utility bill by just lowering it 3 to 5 degrees, and lowering your thermostat 10 degrees before going to work can save you up to 15% on your bills for the year!
Some thermostats have programable options to lower the temperature at a certain time and increase at another to keep things simpler for you. Check to see if your thermostat has this option or if you are looking to buy one, check to see if it has this feature before purchasing.
Consider stopping or limiting your use of electric space heaters as well. Of course, do not make it so cold in your home that you are freezing all the time, but be aware of when you leave your space heaters running when you are not even in the room.
Chargers and Cords
Unplug chargers, cords, fans, heaters, and appliances you only use once in a while. Like a breadmaker. How often do you make bread? Not enough to keep it plugged in all the time!
Unplug cords you are not using, because they sap energy, and the energy doesn’t get used. The chargers don’t store it, so they end wasting energy. Unplugging them can help reduce that energy loss.
Conserve Water
Water can add up each month and often we waste it without thinking about how much money is literally going down the drain.
Outside
Watering your lawn with a sprinkler can increase your water bill astronomically, plus, it is super wasteful. Try not watering your lawn as frequently or stopping altogether. Using a hose or water from a rain barrel is a great alternative for those who still want to water their grass, but less often.
If you live in a location that rains frequently, try using a rain barrel to collect rainwater. This water can be used to water your garden, potted plants, or lawn. This water can’t be used for drinking, but it is perfect to reduce your water usage on landscaping.
Inside
Using low-flow showerheads instead of conventional models can improve your home’s water efficiency and lower costs. Low-flow showerheads are classified as having a flow rate under 2.5 gallons per minute, which is half of what conventional showerheads use.
You can find low-flow showerheads online, or in plumbing and hardware stores.
Turn off the water when brushing your teeth, shaving, or soaping up your face, and limit the amount of hot water you use. Small things like this may not seem important but will help make your home more efficient just by being aware of your water usage.
Replace Lightbulbs
Replace your old incandescent bulbs with LED, compact fluorescent, or halogen bulbs. All three are far more energy-efficient, plus they last far longer than their incandescent cousins.
The average home uses 40-50 bulbs, so you can imagine the energy and money saved by switching over to a longer-lasting, energy-efficient option.
Starting to Compost
If you have the option, starting a compost pile, barrel, or bin is a great way to stay environmentally friendly. They turn your food scraps into soil and that soil can be used in gardens, lawns, or potted plants.
Compost piles are super simple, reduce your home’s waste, and give great, free nutrition to your garden or lawn.
Insulate and Seal Drafts
Making sure your home is insulated can save you tons on your energy and heating bill. Drafts will suck out heat, leaving you cold and spending more than you would have. Make sure your windows seal, and that your attic, in particular, is insulated well, with no draft or holes.
For drafty doors, you can purchase seals to attach to the tops or bottoms of your doors to help seal them and prevent heat from escaping or air, water, and debris from getting into your home.
Switching to Solar Power
Although the switch to solar power is not cheap, it is efficient and will help reduce your energy bill and increase your energy efficiency.
Solar panels, like their name, harness energy from the sun making it a great environmentally friendly option.
But, not everyone can switch to solar. Solar panels require good, sunny climates, optimal location, access to the sun for multiple hours a day, maintenance and they can cost quite a bit to install.
Picking the solar panel system that works for you may be tricky as well, and you should reach out to have a consultant come to your home to check out if your home is a viable option for solar.
Storm Doors
Adding a storm door to your front or back door can help increase its energy efficiency. It can keep out hot and cold air, prevent extreme weather damage, typically last anywhere from 20 to 50 years, and usually only cost about 75 dollars.
Switching to Energy Efficient Appliances
Your appliances eat up energy and water like energy and water are going out of style. Switching to energy-efficient appliances can save you cash and lower the energy used by your home.
You can purchase all kinds of different appliances but check on the main ones in your home. Find out how much energy you are using to run your dishwasher and refrigerator, and then check out this link to find out how to go about changing, and which appliances in your home should be switched.
Purchasing Energy-Efficient Products
While shopping for any type of tools, appliances, lightbulbs, etc, check to make sure that is an energy star product. This label, which may make your product a little bit more expensive, means that what you are purchasing surpasses the standard for energy efficiency set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (the EPA).
Although these products are usually a couple of extra buck than their non-efficient counterparts, they will help you save money further on down the line. Plus, being energy-efficient certified means that they will be better for the environment as well.
If all else fails you may want to evaluate your electricity rate. In deregulated energy states like Texas, you can shop around for energy rates. With a little bit of research, you can save up to 20% or more on your energy bills. You can even opt-in to renewable energy plans to reduce your carbon footprint.
– This is a guest post not written by the websites’ owner.