We spend a lot of money and use a large amount of energy daily in our homes. We try minor adjusting to try to reduce the levels of energy consumption, but still, end up spending more money and saving less energy. While aiming to conserve energy, two questions should be asked:
- How do I avoid expensive energy bills?
- How can I make less of an environmental impact while conserving energy?
Here, we’ve outlined a few ways to conserve energy and save money.
Four Simple Ways to Conserve Energy
Use Energy-Saving Bulbs and Appliances
Incandescent bulbs are frequently seen in the majority of homes in America. They’re expensive, hard to replace, and do not last long. Incandescent bulbs are huge energy wasters and come with a pretty price tag, so why continue buying and using them? Consider using LEDs, they’re cheaper, easier to replace, and last 25x longer than incandescent bulbs. These bulbs also have a positive environmental impact compared to incandescent bulbs. If you’re looking to conserve more energy, your first step should be to switch bulbs.
Change of Your Habits and Behaviors
How often does this happen to you? You’re running late, frantically shuffling around the house, and you forget to turn off your bathroom light? As minuscule as this seems, you actually end up wasting a lot of energy by not turning off lights when they’re not in use. The same goes for leaving lamps on, overrunning the dishwasher, and letting the toilet run. Checking the switches in your home can help you save more energy, and more on your electric bill!
Some other great ways to conserve energy is to turn off ceiling fans when you’re not using them, wash your clothes in cold water, and reduce hot water usage. When the temperature is nice, why not open a window and cut off the air? You save so much money by changing subtle habits.
Appropriate Use of Extra Appliances
Setting a limit of excess usage of heavy appliances is another way to conserve energy in your home. If you leave the television on when it’s not in use, you are subtly wasting a lot of energy. Turning off the air, TV, and other electronic appliances can reduce your energy use drastically. Another way to save energy is to unplug phone chargers when they’re not in use.
Sealing and Weatherizing Your Home
You may think leaks in the home are only minor inconveniences, but you should know that unsealed leaks can end up using energy, too. Testing your home for air tightness can save up to 30% of energy consumed in your home. Sealing air leaks can be as simple as patching up holes, to as extreme as wiring spaces within the walls. THis process is known as weatherizing. Properly sealing ventilated windows and open spaces can save you a significant amount of energy.