There is a considerable amount of money spent on electricity per month in every household. There are various ways we can conserve energy, from behavioral adjustments to household improvements. Environmental conservation and saving on utility bills are some of the primary reasons why we conserve energy. With the advancement of technology, we find ourselves using a lot of household equipment that consumes power. However, we can achieve energy conservation with a few rationing techniques without compromising our comfort at home. So if you have been asking yourself; how do I save energy in my house? here are some tips for you Â
Change Daily Behaviors
Conserving energy does not mean that you cease to buy pieces of equipment that use electricity or that you buy ones that are less efficient to achieve energy conservation. Nonetheless, it means that you have to make adjustments to your daily usage. Such adjustments can be as simple as switching off the lights when not in use or switching off household appliances.Â
Furthermore, you can achieve energy conservation by switching to a manual way of doing house chores. For example, instead of using a dishwasher, you can wash and rinse utensils manually. Instead of using a dryer to dry clothes, you can air them outside, especially when the weather is friendly. Â
Change of behavior delivers more positive results in saving money. Almost half of the energy bills in a household can be attributed to heating and cooling. Therefore by regulating their usage, one saves more on the energy cost. Additionally, there are tools available in the market which can help you track your energy usage. You will know which appliances consume more electricity or which ones do not use up a lot of energy.Â
Make Use Of Intelligent Power Strips
When appliances are on standby, they tend to waste more energy unnecessarily. According to energy-saving trust research, the energy used by devices on standby can be estimated at around 9-16%. Annually, this can end up costing you a lot of money. Therefore you need to make use of an advanced power strip. They save on energy by cutting off power to appliances when they are not being used. It will save a lot of energy even on days when you forget to turn off a device.Â
Invest In A Programmable Thermostat
You need to turn off your heater’s thermostat during cooling or heating; however, when you are away, this may be impossible. Therefore with an automatic thermostat, your heater will turn itself on and off during cooling and heating. Therefore it is a good way of energy conservation without having to upgrade your HVAC.Â
An automatic thermostat not only regulates energy it also helps notify you when air filters on the heater are ruined, or any other malfunction exists. Some of these defects on the heater may be overlooked, yet they may be the leading cause of utility bill surge.Â
Opt For Energy-Saving Appliances
If you intend to stock up your house with more home appliances, then consider buying energy-saving ones. For example, for something as simple as a bulb, it is best to get one that does not use up much energy. When purchasing your home pieces of equipment, you should consider two factors;
- The operating price, monthly or annuallyÂ
- Purchase price
- FunctionalityÂ
You’ll find that kits that save energy are pretty pricey; however, they will save you some extra costs in the long run.Â
You are wondering how you can identify these energy-saving types of equipment. With the availability of several kits in the market, you have to be extra keen. Most energy-saving appliances have a label written ENERGY STAR on them.Â
The label guarantees that the equipment will not consume a lot of energy even when on standby. These energy-saving appliances also differ in their functionality. For example, an ENERGY STAR fridge saves up to 9 % of power, while an ENERGY STAR washing machine uses 25% less energy. Â
Seal Air Leaks Around The House
Sealing air leaks reduces the need to use high heat when heating your house. Common air leak spots in the house are vents, doors, and windows. Okay, maybe you can leave the vents open for proper air circulation. But ensure you close your windows and doors, especially during the freezing period.
 Once the air leakage spots are available, you let cold or hot air in, which will, in turn, require you to heat up or cool off your house more often. Also, cracks on walls on the floors can be a source of air leaks, meaning you have to get them fixed. So if you want to reduce the energy consumed by heating and cooling, you need to check if there are any air leaks.Â
Bottom Line
Living a more energy-conscious life is not that hard. You have to make some simple adjustments to your lifestyle and usage. Some of the significant benefits include saving on energy bills, boosting the value of your property, and environmental conservation. You can also have other personal reasons as to why you would love to save energy. Whatever the reasons are, you will still get to enjoy this wide range of benefits.