How To Conserve Energy At Home
Nowadays, lots of people are looking for ways to conserve energy at home. Not only it saves money, it is also good for environment. There are also lots of incentives for people to make improvements in their home to save energy like rebate programs. So, it is definitely worth it to look into it.
Here are some energy savings ideas:
Energy Efficient Lighting
You can start making your home energy efficient by changing light bulbs in your home. It produces the same amount of lighting with lesser energy which means saving you some money, so why not? You can look for light bulbs that has earned Energy Star at any hardware or home improvement stores.
Other than the bulbs, you can install timer, photocell or dimmer to control the use of the light. Also, not just indoor lighting, don’t forget about your outdoor lighting as well. Just like indoor lighting, change outdoor fixtures with the one that earn Energy Star and with features like automatic daylight shut off or motion sensor.
Home Appliances and Electronics
From dishwasher, refrigerator to washer and dryer. Other than looking for Energy Star sign, some manufacturers produce “Smart” appliances that can be connected to the “Smart” meter at home. It will automatically shift the use of the energy during peak hours, but it doesn’t shut it off. It just means you’ll be using less energy and lower your utility bill.
Insulation and Air Sealing
Check any cracks and openings to make sure there’s no air leakage. Proper caulking and weatherstripping on doors,windows can prevent any air from heater or air conditioner to leak out of the house while in use therefore it will reduce your utility bill.
Water Heater and HVAC System
Water heater and HVAC system play major role in home energy use. Tankless water heater is the current trend and it is an energy saver as it provides hot water on-demand. It doesn’t use standby energy like the storage water heater version. Heating and cooling system use the most energy in your home. To save energy, use digital programmable thermostat to preset and control the temperature at home. This programmable feature can save energy and reduce your utility bill.
Windows and Doors.
Make sure they are sealed properly to prevent air leakage. Other than windows, you should consider skylight. It will naturally brighten up your home without turning any light switch which means saving energy.
Go Solar
Solar energy is the latest buzz on energy saving nowadays. It’s not only reversing your electrical bill and getting rebate from some programs but it also increases the value of your home. If you’re using an electric car, these solar panel will also reduce your gas expenses. But all of these depend on your monthly utility bill and how long you are going to stay in the house. Do your calculation before installing those solar panels since you will pay quite amount of money up front and this will take a while until you actually see that you’re saving money on your utility expenses.