Whether you’re looking to save money or reduce your impact on the environment, there are some simple steps you can take to make your home more energy-efficient.
First, start by doing a home energy audit to see how much energy your house uses. Many utilities offer this service for free.
1. Install a programmable thermostat
Thermostats help save you money and keep your home at a comfortable temperature without the need for constant manual adjustments. They also help reduce energy wastage and your overall environmental impact.
A programmable thermostat can also be programmed to run at a certain time each day, so you don’t have to worry about keeping your heating or cooling system running when no one is home. This can be helpful for people who are away from their homes during the work week.
In addition, a programmable thermostat can also be used to control temperature in different rooms in your home. This can be particularly helpful if your home has zoned heating and cooling systems.
2. Turn off the lights when you leave a room
One of the most effective ways to make your home more energy-efficient is to turn off the lights when you leave a room. This will help you save electricity, reduce your utility bills, and extend the life of your light bulbs.
Depending on the bulb type you use, there are general rules of thumb for when it makes sense to turn off your lights. If you use incandescent bulbs, for example, it makes sense to turn them off when you are leaving the room for 15 minutes or more.
If you are using fluorescent bulbs, you can leave them on if you will be leaving the room for less than 15 minutes. However, it is important to turn them off if you are planning to stay in the room for longer than that.
Similarly, LED bulbs are very energy efficient and consume very little electricity. Despite their high energy efficiency, it is best to turn them off when you are not going to be using them.
3. Unplug your electronics
Among the easiest ways to save electricity is to unplug your electronics. It’s a good habit that helps the environment and can also save you money!
When appliances are plugged into an outlet but not in use, they draw energy — a practice known as “phantom power.” Even the most energy-efficient appliances can waste a bit of electricity.
This is especially true for chargers and phones, which draw a lot of power even when they’re not charging. It can add up to a substantial amount of electricity that you’ll be paying for on your phantom load bill.
You can easily identify which devices are wasting power by using a handheld monitor. Plug each device into the monitor and turn it off to see how much wattage it uses.
4. Turn off the water
One of the best things you can do to make your home more energy-efficient is to turn off the water. When the water is turned off, all of the plumbing fixtures and appliances that use water will stop consuming water.
This prevents them from using more energy than they need to, saving you money on your energy bill. It also reduces your carbon footprint by reducing the amount of energy that is used to heat and cool your home.
It’s important to know where the shut-off valve for your home’s water supply is located, so that you can always cut off the water when needed. This knowledge can save you thousands of dollars in repair costs when a leak or other problem occurs in your home.
