Do you want to conserve more energy and by doing so save yourself a lot of money. We have seven tips to do just that. Read on and find out more.
1) Adjust your daily behaviours
In order to reduce your home's energy consumption, you don't necessarily have to go out and buy energy-efficient products. When it comes to energy conservation, it can be as easy to turn off appliances or lights whenever you are not using them. You can also use your energy-intensive appliances not as often by manually performing household tasks, like washing your dishes by hand, or hang dry your clothes rather than putting them into the dryer.
The adjustments in behaviour that can potentially save the most on utilities are using the air conditioner less often during the summer and turning the heat down on the thermostat during the winter. Heating and cooling expenses comprise almost fifty percent of an average house's utility bills, so those restrictions in the frequency and intensity of heating and cooling provide the best highest savings.
There are tools that can be used to determine where the majority of your electricity is being used in your house. A house energy monitor may help with understanding which of your appliances are consuming the most electricity on a daily basis. The Josco Energy Conference is designed to help you to find out the best ways to cut down your energy bill. Why not visit?
2) Replace the light bulbs
A high amount of electricity is consumed by regular incandescent light bulbs and need to be replaced more frequently than energy efficient options. Light-emitting diode bulbs (LEDs), compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), and halogen incandescent bulbs use 25-80% less electricity and also last 3-25 times longer compared to traditional bulbs.
Energy efficient bulbs cost more upfront but their longer service lives and more energy efficient use means they will cost less over the long term. In terms of financial and environmental benefits, energy efficient bulbs clearly are the winners.
3) Make use of smart power strips
One major source of wasted energy is “phantom loads,” or electricity that electronics use when they are in standby mode or turned off. In fact, it has been estimated that an estimated 75% of the energy that is used for powering household electronics is actually consumed when the devices are turned off. This can cost up to $200 a year. Advanced power strips, or smart power strips, eliminate the phantom load problem by shutting the power off on electronics when they are not being used. Smart power strips may be set so that they turn off at a certain assigned time through remote switches during an inactive period, or based on the master device's status.
4) Install a smart or programmable thermostat
A smart or programmable thermostat may be set so that it turns off automatically or reduce cooling and heat during the times you away or sleeping. When a programmable thermostat is installed, you can eliminate the use of wasteful energy from cooling and heat without having to sacrifice any comfort or upgrade your HVAC system.
A programmable thermostat, on average, may save you up to $180 per year. There are different models of programmable thermostats that can be set in order to fit with your weekly schedule. Other programmable thermostat features may include indicators for when air filters should be replaced, or HVAC system problems, that can help to improve your HVAC system's efficiency.
5) Buy energy efficient appliances
Appliances, on average, are responsible for an estimated 13% of total household energy use. Whenever you are buying an appliance, there are two numbers you need to pay attention to: the initial purchase price and yearly operating cost. Although normally energy efficient appliances have higher initial purchase prices, their operating expenses are 9-25% lower than regular models.
When buying energy efficient appliances, look for appliances that have an ENERGY STAR label. This is a federal guarantee that less energy will be consumed by the appliance during use and when it is on standby compared to standard non-energy efficient models. The amount of energy that you will save will be based on the appliance. ENERGY STAR certified washers, for example, consume 25% less energy and also 4% less water compared to conventional washers, while ENERGY STAR refrigerators only use 9% less energy.
6) Cut your water heating expenses
One of the major contributors of your total energy consumption is heating water. other than buying an energy efficient water heater, you can use three different methods to reduce your water heating costs: use less hot water, turn the thermostat down on your water heater, or put insulation around your water heater along with the first six feet of cold and hot water pipes.
If you thinking about replacing the water heater in your house with a more efficient model, then there are two factors that you need to keep in mind: the kind of water heater that will meet your needs and the kind of fuel it uses. For example, a tankless water heater is energy efficient but is a poor choice for a large family since they cannot handle simultaneous and multiple hot water uses. Efficient water heaters may range from up to 8% up to 30% more energy efficient compared to conventional storage water heaters. Make sure you account for its long service life of 10-15 years that you can save money on heating water.
7) Install energy efficient windows in your house
Windows can be a major source of wasted energy, which may amount to 10% to 25% of your total heating bill. In order to prevent the loss of heat through your windows, your single-pane windows may be replaced with double-pane windows.
For houses in cold area, gas-filled windows that have low-e coating may reduce your overall heating expenses significantly. Also, exterior or interior storm windows may reduce unnecessary loss of heat by 10 to 20 percent. Consider your storm windows in particular if the area that you live in has extreme weather events frequently.
In warmer climates, there can be a problem of heat gain through your windows Low-e coatings on the window, along with minimizing heat loss, can also reduce heat gain through reflecting more light and reducing the thermal energy amount that is diffused into your house. Depending on your climate, ENERGY STAR window may save up to $95 per year on your utility bills. Awnings, screens, shutters and window shades may also provide an additional insulation layer in between the external temperature and your house.
