If all of us made one small change then this would have a huge impact on the environment. If you’re ready to take that next step, then you can find out some useful hints and tips here.
9 Easy Ways to Make Your Home Much More Energy Efficent
Lower your Thermostat
Believe it or not, lowering your thermostat is one of the best ways for you to save energy. If you are able to drop the energy by around 5 degrees, then this will use up way less energy and you may even find that this saves you up to 15% every single year.
Compost
You don’t need to have a huge yard or even a garden in order to start a compost pile. Compost is organic waste that decomposes over time and it makes a very valuable fertiliser. The best thing about composting is that it will reduce the amount of trash that your home produces. This puts way less pressure on landfills and it can even help you to benefit the environment too.
Low-Flow Showerheads
If you are able to install a low-flow showerhead then this will really improve the overall energy efficiency of your home. A low-flow showerhead will have a flow rate of around 2.5GPM and when you compare it to the 5GPM that a normal showerhead uses, you will soon find that it is a fantastic way for you to cut down on your water bill.
Seal your Windows
Air leaks can cause you to turn up the heating way more than you need. One way for you to get around this would be for you to try and seal any leaks that you have. If you have really bad windows, then weather stripping may come in useful. Adding silicone to cracks in the walls or even add a sheet of shrink film to the windows themselves. Little things like this will absolutely make a difference and it will also make it way easier for you to make the most out of the small changes you do make.
Limit Space Heater Use
Sure, electric space heaters do feel nice when the colder weather hits, but they really are not an efficient way for you to heat your home. An efficient space heater will still use around 1,500 watts of energy in order to operate and they will really drain your energy too. For this reason, you should avoid them, or if you absolutely have to, use your thermostat instead. If your boiler is old, you might also want to invest in a combi boiler as this will help you to be more energy-efficient.
Turn off Unnecessary Water
You can save a small fortune every year by making a few small changes to your water usage. When you are brushing your teeth, turn off the tap. You should also only ever use your washing machine if you have a full load.
Replace your Incandescent Bulbs
Halogen bulbs or even compact fluorescent lamps will offer you a much higher level of energy efficiency when compared to standard bulbs. Each average home has over 40 bulbs, so you can imagine how much you could save if you just made the switch. Sure, this will be expensive to begin with but when you do, you will soon find that it is easier than ever for you to get a positive result out of your installation.
Unplug your Unused Chargers
Believe it or not, battery chargers or even phone chargers that are plugged in but not in use can use a huge amount of energy. The average charger uses 0.26 watts of energy when it is not in use and 2.24 watts when it’s connected. Energy vampires like this can account for 10% of your energy bill so if you unplug them then you will soon find that it’s a fantastic way for you to cut back on the amount you’re spending.
Don’t Wash with Hot Water
You should always avoid washing with hot water. Instead, opt for warm water instead. 90% of the energy used for a dishwasher is actually used to heat up the water. If you wash at a lower temperature, then you will soon find that you can save a huge amount and that your energy bills are significantly reduced too.
Add Insulation
If your attic is not insulated, then this could be causing you a huge amount of air leaks. The cost for your insulation will depend on the size of your home and your region, but usually it’s super affordable so you shouldn’t have any problems there. The cost savings will pay for the insulation itself in a few years too.
Kori
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