Following These 7 Tips Can Help You Achieve A More Energy-Efficient Home
By: John Garcia | Date Posted: October 29, 2021
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With the rise in living costs and a changing climate, more people are looking for ways to save money while being environmentally conscious. The best way to do this is by conserving energy in your home. In this post, we will discuss 7 tips that can help you reduce your carbon footprint, lower your monthly bills, and make your life easier.
Get New Windows And Doors
Doors and windows are the main sources of heat transfer in your home. If you have old ones (e.g. wooden), drafty ones (e.g. broken seals), or just not up to snuff it is time for new ones. Replacing them with new energy-efficient models can reduce drafts by as much as 40%. Replacing old leaky doors and windows with new double-pane glass units will decrease your heating bill, potentially saving 20% on your utility bills.
If your existing UPVC frames are in excellent condition you could keep them. This would mean having a retrofit installation rather than a full-frame removal. If you go online to specialist websites you can learn the difference and discover the pros and cons of both. You can then choose the most suitable option for your specific property.
Replace Your Old Light Bulbs
Replace your old incandescent versions with new LED bulbs. The incandescent ones are being phased out due to their lack of energy efficiency and shorter life, so it is important to replace them with the more efficient option: LED lights. When your energy bills are reduced and the bulbs last longer it is a win-win situation. Other advantages of LED lights are their brightness, directionality of light, and their ability to dim.
You could alternatively use compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFL) which are another common type of bulb used today. Once you have replaced your bulbs, always be sure to switch off the lights in your home when you are not using them. Dimmer switches can also save you money because they can be set to use less power.
Have Solar Panels Fitted
Whilst they can be expensive, they are a great long-term investment. They will pay for themselves in energy savings over time because they will consistently reduce your energy bills. They provide other benefits like helping you reduce your carbon footprint on the planet ā they donāt release greenhouse gases into our atmosphere compared to traditional electricity sources. Solar panels donāt need fuel, require minimal maintenance, and typically last for around 25 years. If your roof is still good there is no reason not to consider this option because it will allow you to generate free electricity from the sun.
Achieve A More Energy-Efficient Home
Solar panels also allow you to become more independent from big utility companies by harnessing power directly from the sunās rays. You can also sell solar power to the energy company, which is another great way of making money. If you decide not to do this but still want solar panels fitted on your property, there are schemes in place where homeowners can receive a rebate for installing solar panels and using green electricity. It is all about helping create awareness and encouraging more people to adopt renewable technologies.
Install A Programmable Thermostat
They allow you to pre-set your homeās heating and cooling systems so they can automatically adjust according to your schedule. They are easy to install, program, use, and maintain. They also help reduce energy consumption and lower monthly utility bills, because you have a greater measure of control.
You can have hot water when you need it, a cold house when nobody is home, and a warmer house when it is winter. It is even possible to adjust it remotely using a downloadable app on your smartphone.
Replace Your Old Appliances
White goods are items that remain white when you take them out of the box and plug them into an outlet. White goods can include things like refrigerators, washing machines, electric dryers, freezers, dishwashers, ovens, and stoves. If the white goods are over 12 years old or were manufactured before 1994 they are probably not very energy efficient so it might be time to replace them with new models.
Appliances such as refrigerators have become much more affordable for regular consumers while becoming far more environmentally friendly than older models ever were. This reflects the priority that nations are increasingly making over the whole issue of energy efficiency.
Switch Off The Standby Buttons On Your Electronics
The red standby button found on televisions, DVD players, and other electronic appliances, is highly convenient for people who want to switch their appliances on or off by pressing a single button. Sadly the red light means that your electronic device consumes power continuously, even when it is not in use (unless you unplug it at the wall each time). Anyone keen to save money on their electricity bills will be keen to avoid wasting energy unnecessarily in this way.
One good way to avoid wasting energy and money on standby power is by using power strips. They have their red button and they help you switch off all your appliances at once when not in use. If you want to be more thorough with saving energy, plug these power strips into a timer so that they automatically turn themselves off each day or night.
Insulate Your Home
Insulation helps to block out air from the home, preventing drafts and helping your home retain heat. In addition, insulation will help keep the noise down inside your house. Be sure to insulate the attic, basement, walls, and doors. Also, go around the house and block up any holes near pipes, etc that could cause drafts and increase your heating bills.
These have been 7 major ways you can save money on a more energy-efficient home. Some options are more expensive than others, and no doubt you will need to act according to your budget. By putting some of these strategies into place, your home may become warmer in winter, cooler in summer, and cheaper to run every month for many years to come.
Thank you for reading!
