With those high summer electricity bills right around the corner, it is time to start thinking about how to reduce energy consumption in your home.
Not only will this save you a whole lot of money on utilities, but it will also help you do your part in saving the environment. But there is much more to an energy efficient home than meets the eye.
Check out our five sustainable ways to reduce energy consumption in your home. That way you can move towards a more sustainable lifestyle overall.
Home Insulation
Having the right kind of insulation in your home is one of the best ways to conserve energy. This is true during both the summer and winter.
During the summer months, you want to make sure that your air-conditioned home’s cool internal air doesn’t escape into the hot outside world. During the winter months, the situation is reversed. Thus, it is essential that you invest in the best combi boiler to keep the cold nights away.
By keeping internal air from escaping, you keep the inside of your home at a stable temperature. When you keep your home’s internal environment at a stable temperature, you don’t need to heat it or cool it as much.
This decreases the need to run your air conditioner or heating system. The less you run your climate-control system, the more money you will save on your power bill.
Home insulation is most often found in the walls, roof, and foundation of your home.
Make sure that all of these areas have the right amount, and type of insulation. Also, internal air can escape through cracks in your walls or foundations. Make sure to seal off all cracks that develop in these areas.
Pay special attention to areas of interest, such as where walls join or you have an entranceway. These are common areas where heat or cold air can escape into the outside world.
Energy Efficient Windows and Doors
Cracks in your walls and foundation aren’t the only place where heat or cold air can escape from your home. Windows and doors are two other prime examples.
Make sure to seal off the area around your windows if you notice a draft. Try doing the same with your doors and entranceways as well. If all else fails, try rolling up a carpet and sticking it under your door to reduce the draft.
Your best bet is to get some energy efficient windows and doors installed. These types of windows have thicker glass panes and are designed to not allow internal air to escape.
They might be a bit pricey right off the bat, but they are a wise financial choice that pays for themselves in the long run. They will save you money and help make your house into an energy efficient home.
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Take Shorter Showers
Your water heater takes up a lot of excess energy. By taking shorter showers and baths, you decrease your home’s total electricity usage.
By knocking off a few minutes in the shower, you can save a whole bunch of money on your next electricity bill.
It may be hard to get some members of your family to cooperate, but if you can limit shower time to below 10-minutes it will go a long way towards your total energy savings.
After that, try for 5-minute showers to see how much you can save. You also may want to take showers every other day or every few days to eliminate the need for extra electricity.
Embrace Green Home Design
There are ways you can design your home that takes advantage of natural principles of engineering and thermodynamics. For instance, homes with a lot of windows in the right locations produce a localized greenhouse effect.
Try placing windows on south-facing aspects to maximize the amount of sunlight they bring into your home. You can also locate parts of your home below ground to help with insulation and climate control.
A geodesic home may be a good option as well, especially if you are looking for a structurally sound design to withstand the elements.
You can also incorporate plants into your home for both aesthetic and energy efficient purposes with features such as a water-retaining green roof, or living wall.
How to Reduce Energy Consumption More
There are all sorts of other ways to reduce your energy consumption more. For instance, you can buy all sorts of green appliances that use less electricity than conventional machines.
From dishwashers to refrigerators, look for the Energy Star symbol on your appliances to ensure that it is energy efficient. You can also use this product locator if you require new appliances.
In addition to buying energy efficient appliances, you can install a solar energy system. This will help lessen your home’s dependence on the grid and lower your monthly electricity bills.
Little stuff also helps. This includes things such as turning off lights when you leave a room and using blankets and warm clothes rather than turning up the thermostat.
Unplugging large electronics such as televisions and music amplifiers when they are not in use is a great way to reduce your ambient power usage.
Some larger electronics will draw power even when they are turned off. Over time, this can result in an expensive power bill.
When it comes to your energy consumption, think green. The less you use, the more you help the environment.
It is rare that saving money and helping the environment overlap, but reducing your energy consumption is one surefire way to do both.
Think Green and Save It
Going green put’s more money in your pocket. Learning how to reduce energy consumption in your home is a lifelong process, but you can take the first steps today by implementing the 5 tips in this article.
Lowering your power bill is part of being a responsible and thrifty homeowner. Your bank account and Mother Earth will thank you. Go green by lowering your energy consumption today and check our page for more news and info.
