With the cost of electricity steadily rising in most parts of the world, cutting back on your energy consumption can save you a lot of money at the end of each billing cycle. If you’re looking for ways to make your home more energy efficient, here are 5 ways to help you use less, whilst saving more.
1. Use energy efficient appliances.
The older your appliance (e.g., fridge, dishwasher, washing machine, water heater) the less energy efficient it probably is. When shopping for a new replacement, do some energy comparisons between different models, and choose one that’s been labeled “Energy Star Certified”. In the long one, energy efficient appliances will drastically reduce your energy consumption and help you save more money. Plus, you’ll be doing your part for the environment.
2. Switch to fluorescent light bulbs.
Make the switch from incandescent light bulbs to the fluorescent variety and see your energy consumption take a significant dive. This switch would have to be one of the easiest and quickest ways of reducing your energy consumption. Fluorescent light bulbs last for more than 10,000 hours (compared to only 1,000) and use far less electricity to give off the same amount of light as old incandescent light bulbs. Over the long run, this simple change will save you and your family a lot of money.
3. Invest in better insulation.
If your home isn’t sufficiently insulated, then you may be losing precious energy. Insulating your home will stop heat from leaking from your home in the colder months, and will also help keep your home cooler in the summer months, saving you in cooling costs (e.g., air-conditioning).
4. Put a solar film or solar shades on windows.
If you live in a particularly warm climate then it may be useful to apply solar films to your windows to reduce the amount of heat that seeps into your home – thus saving you on cooling costs. Treating your windows with solar protection helps protect your home against ultraviolet rays, and helps you better regulate the amount of heat in your home. They’re relatively easy to install, and are a cost effective way to lower your energy consumption. The latest solar films are much better than older products, and block more heat than light.
5. Change your air-conditioner’s filter.
When it comes to your energy needs in the warmer months, it helps to keep your cooling system running efficiently. If you have an a/c unit in your home, make sure you clean the filter regularly (at least monthly in heavy-use months) to ensure that your air-conditioning system is working efficiently. A dirty filter will make your system work harder to keep your home cool, wasting precious energy along the way.
There are a number of ways you can make your home more energy efficient. Switch to energy efficient appliances and light bulbs, invest in better insulation, apply solar films to your windows, and clean you’re a/c filter regularly, and no doubt you’ll be saving electricity and money in no time at all.
More Energy Saving Tips
10 Ways to Save on Your Electric Bill
How to Save Money on Utilities in the Winter
How to Save Money on Utilities in the Summer
Ivy Delfin works in Marketing for an energy saving and efficient agency, Save Central. When Ivy has time off she enjoys swimming and taking her Golden Retriever for a walk.
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