Energy-saving strategies for home
The vast majority of us use energy every single day of our lives. However, high energy usage leads to carbon emissions that will damage ecosystems and pollute the air. Taking active steps to minimize the amount of energy you use in your home will reduce adverse effects on the planet and help you save money on energy bills. There are many ways you can minimize your everyday carbon footprint that won’t require drastic changes.
Use a smart meter
A smart meter will allow you to see how much you pay for the amount of energy your appliances use. These devices have not only been shown to encourage a reduction in energy usage, but they make understanding your energy usage much easier, too. They have become increasingly popular over the last few years: By the end of 2020, over 107 million smart meters were installed in U.S homes.
Control appliances remotely
Have you ever come home and realized you forgot to turn off the heating or lights before you were out all day? Instances like this increase the amount of energy your home uses. One way to address this problem is to control your appliances remotely with apps or smart technology. The Google nest learning thermostat lets you control the temperature of your home from a phone, laptop or tablet wherever you are. The technology also adjusts to your schedule and preferred temperatures to help you save energy. Nest Learning Thermostat users save around 10 percent on heating bills and 15 percent on cooling bills.
How to save water at home
Take a shower instead of a bath
One way to save energy at home is to cut down on your water usage. Reducing the water you use for bathing is one of the easiest ways to do so. If you usually take baths, try showering instead. According to the U.S Environmental Protection Agency, a full bathtub uses around 70 gallons of water, compared to a 5-minute shower that will use between 10 and 15 gallons.
Use a water-saving showerhead
You can minimize your water usage in the shower even further. Reduce the length of time you shower and use a water-saving showerhead. For example, the EcoPower showerhead features mineral filtration stones and an instant stop button to help you control water flow.
How to save energy on lights
Turn lights off in empty rooms
The easiest way to save energy is obvious–turn off lights you aren’t using. This habit is both eco-friendly and money-saving.
Energy-efficient light bulbs
Not all light bulbs are energy efficient. Swap out standard bulbs in your home for LED energy-saving lightbulbs to save energy in lots of ways. Since the bulbs use less electricity and last longer than traditional bulbs, you won’t pay high energy bills when you use them and you won’t have to replace them as often either. This not only reduces your electricity usage, but it also saves you time and money.
Solar panels
Skip the electrical outlets and use solar energy instead. Solar panels are a great and efficient way to reduce your electricity usage. They turn sunlight into energy and are an effective and eco-friendly way to generate power. If you can, install solar panels on your roof to reduce the amount of energy your home uses. For energy use in a home away from home, like when you’re camping, this solar panel is portable and powerful enough to charge devices from phones and tablets to TVs and electric grills.
If you use outdoor lights, these outdoor solar-powered pathway lights are an eco-friendly way to light up your garden without using up excess energy.
How to save energy in the kitchen
Energy-efficient appliances
Any time you have to purchase an appliance, make sure you look for ones that are energy-efficient. Everything in your kitchen from a dishwasher to a microwave can be energy-saving.
Energy-efficient fridges
A standard refrigerator consumes a lot of energy. When you need to replace your fridge, consider investing in a smart refrigerator that is energy efficient. Energy Star–certified appliances will use less energy.
Energy-efficient kettles
Everyday actions like boiling water add to the amount of energy you use at home. This electric glass kettle quickly boils water and automatically turns off when the water is ready or the container is empty. This saves you energy with every use.
How to save energy when heating and cooling your home
Most of your energy consumption likely comes from heating and cooling your home. There are things you can do to reduce the amount of energy used to stay warm or keep cool.
Use an energy-efficient air conditioner
If you live in a hot area and find yourself relying on air conditioning in the summer months, invest in an energy-efficient air conditioner. This eco-friendly portable air conditioner has a built-in dehumidifier and will keep your home at the temperature you like.
Retain indoor heat
Cool air enters homes via chimneys and gaps in your window or door seals, which makes your heating less effective. If you live in a cooler area and your home is drafty, block these spaces to help keep the heat in your house. A chimney draft blocker will keep cold air from coming into larger areas. Choose a washable draft excluder that matches your decor to fashionably stop air from coming in under your doors.
Get a heavy comforter for winter
You won’t be tempted to turn on the heater at night if you have cozy bedding to keep you warm while you sleep. Invest in quality bedding like this down comforter and you’ll save on your heating throughout the colder months of the year.
Heather Roy is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
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