The amount of energy that we all use is slowly damaging the environment. The Climate Council suggests that the best way that we can all help is to make our homes more energy efficient. There are a number of ways that this can be done. Some of them can even be done by renters. The following tips are by no means limited to homeowners and landlords. If you lease a place maybe you can talk to the property owner, or property manager, and see what changes can be done. You may have to pay for part of the changes, but it will be worth it in the end.
Appliances
If your home is more than 15 years old it is a good bet that all the appliances in the house need to be replaced. That is, of course, the ones that have not been switched out already. If your appliances are older than that they are outdated and not as efficient as they should be. This also includes your heating and cooling systems. The cost may be substantial up front, but in the long haul it will save you money.Â
Thermostat
It is time to get in control of your thermostat. Install a smart version that can be programmed. Preferably one that can be controlled remotely by your mobile device. One degree of heat or cooling will increase your bill up to 10%. This does not mean to turn your heat down and plug in a portable variety. They take a huge amount of power to run, more than your household one ever will.Â
Insulation
Depending upon what type of home you live in, layers of extra insulation will help keep your indoor temperature more regular. Spray some insulation using a spray foam gun into your attic or add a layer over the top of the existing one. If you do not have a layer, you should add a couple in. Your outer walls can use a tune up as well, so if you are going to be remodeling or replacing any of them make sure to put the best type of insulation in for your area. The cheapest electricity bills can be obtained by simply ensuring that you have adequate insulation that is rated properly for the area that you live in.
Doors and Windows
If they are old, they should be swapped out with energy efficient versions. If not, take the trim off and use some spray foam to fill the gaps. After spraying it in make sure you give it time to set before you start trimming off the excess. Once trimmed replace the trim and then use some caulking around the outer edges. Use a dampened finger to make the lines smooth and easy to paint over when the time comes.
Ceiling Fans
Replace your overhead lights with ones that have ceiling fans. They can be set to push air up to help with cooling, and down to help with heating. Either way circulation is the key to helping your home become more energy efficient.
Lights
This has been hammered into your head for years, so if you still have not converted your bulbs over to energy efficient ones it is time to do so. LED lights use 80% less than standard bulbs, and they last up to 10x longer. The cost may be more upfront, but you will save a substantial amount of money over time.Â
Smart Plugs
A huge draw on your power comes through the TVs, game consoles, and appliances that do not need to be on all the time. You can buy a plug, or a strip that has numerous plugs, which can be plugged into your wall outlet. All your items can then be plugged in through the smart devices. They will turn themselves off when not needed. Items like the refrigerator that need to stay on all the time can be plugged into the outlet designed to never turn off. Make sure that you do not overload your wall outlets though because it will then become a fire hazard.
You may have noticed that there is a trend being set by the changes above. The steps above will help you save money on your bill. When you save money on your bill you are becoming more energy efficient. When you go through the steps and take the time to improve everything that you can, you benefit by saving, and the environment benefits through less consumption.Â
There are some more things that you can do as well, such as turning off your lights when you leave a room. If that seems to never happen in your home then install smart light switches that have sensors in them to turn the lights on and off, depending on the occupants of the house. Simple things make a substantial difference so upgrade your house and everything in it to help you and your family become energy efficient.