As the summer is approaching, what comes to the mind of many people is the bills that the summer brings along with it. One of the ways to improve these bills is by improving the efficiency of the home so that the use of energy can be reduced. Minor changes have a long way in impacting the energy efficiency of the homes. We will be able to save more and increase the comfort of our homes when we focus on the areas that we may be losing energy. Some home energy saving tips are listed so as to help improve the efficiency of our homes and also to save a little money in the process.
Thermostats – Controlling the usage of a thermostat in regulating the temperature in the home will help in conserving energy. You can consider installing a programmable thermostat in your home in order to control temperature. This can be programmed to raise the temperature when you are at work and lower it while you are home during the warm weather. Other ways to improve the efficiency of your thermostat include:
- Keep warm objects away from the thermostat. The heat that is given off will signal to the thermostat that the temperature is too warm and will turn it on when it’s not necessary.
- Resist the urge to turn down the AC lower than usual to cool the home. It won’t cool any faster and just makes your AC work harder than it needs to.
Lights – Choose light bulbs that are energy efficient. These kinds of bulbs use less energy to produce the same amount of light. LED lights should be considered. They are however, more expensive because they are energy efficient and they last for several years. You will save money on your bulbs and also reduce your energy use in the long run. Always remember to turn off the lights when you leave a room. Lights don’t need to be on if you are not in the room.
Appliances – take care of and use appliances wisely. When they are in good working order, appliances operate more efficiently, saving you a lot of money. Some suggestions are listed below:
- Changing filters in your AC and furnace often will help to keep your appliances from working harder than they should.
- Conduct regularly scheduled maintenance on your air conditioner to keep it operating efficiently.
- When cooking, keep the oven door shut. Opening the door allows heat to escape. Your oven will try to accommodate for the lost heat by working harder. Escaped heat will warm up the room, but not your food.
- Consider replacing older appliances with newer, energy efficient options. This will require an initial investment, but it will save you money and energy in the future.
- Your dryer will work more efficiently when the lint filter is kept clean. In fact, you can skip the dryer altogether and air dry your clothes outside.
- By using your dishwasher at night, you can open up the door and let your dishes air dry instead of using the heated dry setting.
Seal and Insulate – You will be kept warm when you seal around doors and windows. You should consider upgrading to windows and doors that are energy efficient. All of these can help keep your house cool and comfortable. You can also insulate ducts to prevent so as to cool or warm air from escaping as it travels through them. Your cost can be increased if your attic is not well insulated. A home’s temperature can be raised by the heat from an attic which makes your air conditioner work harder.
Other Suggestions – There are a lot of easy ways to make your home more energy efficient, some of them include;
- In the summertime, use your curtains and window coverings to keep the interior of your home cooler
- Use timers to automatically turn off lamps and appliances at night when you aren’t using them
- Wash clothes using cold water instead of hot. Water will not need to be heated, which will help to conserve energy
You don’t need a big investment to conserve energy in your home. In many cases, you can achieve it through small, inexpensive changes. You will save money when you use energy efficient bulbs and keep your filters clean. Appliances that run efficiently will last longer. When you make the commitment to improve the efficiency in your home, you’ll not only conserve energy but you’ll save money as well.