Did you know that the residential sector makes up over 21 percent of the total energy consumption in the United States? This means that there’s plenty of room for improvement when it comes to saving energy, based on simple, everyday practices.
For example, if each American replaced just one light bulb in their home with an energy-saving alternative, that could cut back on 9 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions. Per year!
If you want to make more of an effort as a homeowner, here’s how to save energy with simple tweaks around the house.
1. Save Energy by Adjusting Simple, Day-to-Day Habits
As the saying goes, ”every little bit counts”. And when it comes to energy consumption, this could not be more relevant for homeowners. It’s the small, everyday habits that you have in place that impact your overall energy use.
In order to cut back on how much energy you use, start small. Make an effort to turn off lights in every room of your home. Switch off appliances if you’re not using them. Don’t leave your AC running if you don’t need it.
Invest in an energy-saving home water distiller and other smaller appliances. Yes, even these types of appliances can make a difference! Air dry your laundry in the sunshine, instead of using your dryer.
You’d be surprised how much these small changes can quickly add up to impact and lower your overall energy consumption.
2. Opt for Energy-Efficient Light Bulbs
As mentioned earlier, by switching out your light bulbs at home you can make a huge impact on the overall energy consumption across the U.S.
Now, it might not seem like such a small change could make a vast difference. But if you think about how many homes and lightbulbs there are across America, it all adds up.
Incandescent lightbulbs eat up a huge amount of electricity when compared to halogen incandescent bulbs, compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), and light-emitting diode bulbs (LEDs). In fact, these light bulbs consume up to 80 percent less electricity, plus they tend to last longer!
3. Install a Programmable Thermostat
This is a great way to control your energy consumption without having to physically be there in person. A programmable or ”smart” thermostat allows you to set and maintain temperatures throughout your home. As well as set heating and cooling time periods.
In essence, your home’s HVAC system only turns on and off at certain times during the day or night, for set periods, minimizing how much wasteful energy you use.
4. Use the Cold Wash Setting
Believe it or not, your clothes will come out just as clean if you wash them in cold water. When you choose a warm water wash, up to 90 percent of the energy from your washing machine goes to heating the water.
You can cut back on this type of unnecessary energy consumption by choosing a cold water wash. Plus, you can also find cold water-formulated detergents today for this specific reason!
5. Insulate and Weatherize Your Home
A huge amount of energy escapes from homes that are not properly insulated or weatherized. At the end of the day, the result is wasted energy and an unnecessarily high electricity bill for you.
By weatherizing, you can seal in the cool or warm air in your home by weatherstripping or caulking your windows and doors. This lowers your heating and cooling bill and saves energy.
You also want to assess the type of insulation you have in 5 key areas of your home: your attic, basement, walls, floors, and crawlspace. Schedule an insulation upgrade if any one of these areas is not up-to-par.
A Happy, Helpful Place for Homeowners
These are some of the simplest ways you can save energy around the house. With just a few basic tweaks to your daily habits, you really can make a bigger impact than you think!
If you’re a homeowner and have a passion for all things home improvement, crafts, DIY, or gardening, you’re in the perfect place. Take some time to explore the rest of this site for your homeowner’s hit of knowledge.
Infographic Provided By Solar Panel Installation Company, Sunburst Solar