There are lots of ways to reduce energy consumption. Essentially, we’re talking about using less power in various ways and losing less indirectly as well. It can be thought of as opposite sides of the same coin to avoiding energy being an overly costly expense in your household.Â
Here are 4 tips to use less and be less wasteful of energy in the home.
- Reduce the Automatic Daily Usage
A significant percentage of our quarterly energy bill is generated through automatic energy use. By this, we mean those things that we do without thinking because we lead busy lives and cannot focus on everything. As a result, we commonly don’t change these energy wasteful habits, leading to higher utility bills than necessary.
For instance, turning on lights in every room we move through and failing to turn them off when we leave adds extra kilowatts to the meter over time. Leaving a PC on overnight, even if it’s on a low-energy mode or it has an ultra-low voltage processor wastes power too. Unless you’re running a long virus scan or something else out of hours, only turn on the PC when it’s needed.
- Air Seal the Home
While improving the insulation in the walls isn’t usually feasible for older homes, it’s still possible to make efforts to air seal your home.
Attend to Air Leaks
The idea here is to remove any cracks in the walls, air leaks, and gaps near window frames or doors that allow hot or cold air to enter or exit. Even seemingly small leaks can contribute to increased energy bills over many years of homeownership.
Use the Sun to Your Benefit
Draw the curtains or blinds on hotter days to limit how much a room will heat from the sun and need cooling down. Similarly, cooler months call for open blinds to allow the sunshine to add warmth.
By preventing air gaps and taking the other steps above, it’s unnecessary to reheat a home that’s lost warmth (or has warmed up in the summer and needs cooling down). As a result, the heating and cooling systems operate for a reduced duration, last longer, and consume less energy.
- Fix Roof Issues to Avoid Losing Energy
Many common problems can occur with a roof that leads to additional difficulties for homeowners.
Mold growth, roof shingles, and other materials disappearing due to storms, and unexpected leaks all cause headaches for residents. Excess moisture is a semi-regular problem that roof materials are designed to prevent by using multiple layers, waterproof membranes, and more. Yet given what roofs must withstand, some slits, holes, or gaps in the roof can develop.
Major roofing issues need fixing promptly. Even minor ones can cause energy loss by allowing heat to escape while also allowing moisture to enter the property. Acting early is beneficial here.
- Switch to Energy Efficient Appliances
Some of the biggest energy hogs are the refrigerator, freezer, washer-dryer, dishwasher, and other appliances.
While not all of them are used continually, they are typically high-wattage machines that cause the electric meter to run wild. Switching to low-energy appliances and using Eco modes when they’re available can save you dollars.
By making efforts to use less energy each day and lose less of what’s been produced, such as heating, cooling, homeowners can grapple with their utility bills and win the fight. Don’t think of your energy bill as a fixed cost. It is not.
