When it comes to saving energy in your home, there are many things that one can do. However, it is always advisable that one takes time to assess the benefits that come with an energy efficient home. When you understand the advantages of an energy efficient home, you will definitely have a positive mind shift that will help conserve the environment and also save you some money in the long run. Now, what are some of the things that one can do to save energy at home? Here are 5 tips to help jumpstart your energy saving endeavor for your home.
- Use Energy Efficient bulbs
Lighting is one of the things that consume a considerable amount of energy in your home. It makes up around 12% of the energy used in your home. To save energy in this regard, it is advisable that you should switch to LED lights and compact fluorescent bulbs. The use of the compact fluorescent bulbs helps you save 50 to 80% of your energy costs. They also last 10 times longer than the normal bulbs.
You can actually save even more by the use of LED bulbs. They use only 2 to 17 watts of electricity and lasts up to 10 times more than the compact fluorescent bulbs. If you are not sure of where to buy these kinds of energy efficient bulbs, you should consult a qualified electrician who will advise you accordingly.
- Stay warm or cool in an eco-friendly way
Heating the whole house can be an expensive affair. The same case applies to cooling the house during hot weather. One of the best ways to save energy is to dress for the weather or for the temperature. During winter, wearing wool and layering clothes can help you keep warm and save more by turning your heater down. To avoid the use of air conditioners, open the windows and avoid or reduce the use of heating appliances in the house.
- Turn off the lights
When you are not using your lights, always ensure that they are off. You can save quite a lot of energy by switching off lights that are not in use. This is regardless of the type of lights or bulbs in use. To make this a routine, encourage your children or rather all the family members to switch off lights when they are not using them. You can also open up your drapes and make use of natural light. You will not believe the savings you will make on your energy bills!
- Ditch the dryer and air-dry your laundry
Other than the washer and the refrigerator, the dryer is the next energy-hungry appliance in your home. The dryer uses at least 6% of your electricity and therefore, ditching this appliance or reducing its use will result in considerable energy savings. The alternative to the use of this appliance is to air-dry your laundry. Sunlight has natural disinfecting and bleaching properties that will help kill germs and also get rid of stains. It also helps curb emissions and save the environment, among other benefits.
- Turn off appliances when not in use
You should always turn off all the appliances that are not in use. Do not leave any appliance in standby mode. Doing so is a waste of energy. Some of the appliances that are normally left in standby mode are television sets, desktop computers, game consoles and phone chargers. Appliances that you leave on standby mode could cost you up to 10% in electricity bills. A standby power controller could help you reduce the standby time of these appliances and automatically switch them off, effectively saving energy costs in your home.
