Easy Ways To Make Your Home More Energy Efficient

 

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Becoming greener in our approach to home energy use has become a goal lately for many people. Not only are we more aware than ever of the impact our personal habits have on the planet around us, but recent global events have tended to make us more aware of saving money. The good news is that taking a kinder environmental stance can also go hand in hand with reducing your utility bills. Now that’s what you call a win-win situation. Making these changes around the home doesn't have to be difficult - sometimes just a small action can make a big cumulative difference further down the line. Here are some easy steps you can take to make your home more energy efficient and save the planet and your wallet:

Drop Your Thermostat

Just the simple act of turning your thermostat down by five degrees could really make a big difference. Try purchasing a cosy and stylish wrap that you can wear as an extra layer around the house. Or you could try a smart thermostat that lowers the temperature when you aren’t in the house - this could save you up to 15% a year on your heating bills.

Put In Low-Flow Showerheads

If you know that your water efficiency could be better, adding low-flow showerheads could really help to reduce what you use. They limit your flow of water to under 2.5 gallons per minute, and that’s versus around 5 for a conventional shower head. If you tend to shower a lot, this is a very practical way to reduce what you use.

Get Solar Panels Installed

If you live in a location with lots of sunlight, getting solar panels installed is definitely the way to go. They do have a fairly high upfront cost, but you can find grants available in some cases to help cover the cost of purchase and installation. They can help heat your water and generate electricity - some homes generate enough to sell back to the providers! There’s quite a lot to know about the different types of panels available, so do your research.

Service Your HVAC System

Keeping your furnace and A/C system in balance is an absolute must. Most problems are actually just caused by a build-up of dirt and debris that can clog the system and force it to work much harder to heat or cool your space. It’s easy to clean your HVAC yourself so make it part of your cleaning schedule, or you can schedule a maintenance appointment instead. If your coils are clean, parts properly lubricated and connections tightened, the unit will run more efficiently - lowering your bills and having less impact on the planet.

Unplug Your Unused Appliances

Did you know that you could have a ‘vampire’ in your home? Rather than a bloodsucker, this term actually refers to appliances that continue to draw down electricity while they’re in ‘standby’ mode. Things like laptops, cell phone chargers and televisions all continue to use power, even when the device itself isn’t in use. On its own, one of these isn’t going to make much difference, but getting into the habit of not leaving these devices going is key - collectively, they can make up around 10% of your energy usage in a typical year!

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