Tips for running an energy efficient home.
It doesn't take much to turn a power guzzling home into one that's energy efficient. All one needs to do is rethink one's priorities and learn some new habits. This isn't as difficult as it may sound.
Let's explore your routine. Do you remember to switch off the lights as you leave a home? An energy efficient home is one that doesn't waste the utilities. If every light in every room of your house is left blazing, and many of those rooms are empty, you are an energy hog. In addition to wasting the electricity, you're also wasting money. Why not make it a rule to turn off lights that aren't being used? If you're someone who doesn't like to enter a dark room or would rather the front of your home looked as if many people were home, consider a small night light. In addition, do you need to turn on every light in the room you are using? If you're reading, use a reading lamp instead of turning on the overhead lights plus table lamps. If you're watching television, you certainly don't need much more than one small light either.
In an energy efficient home, the goal is to make the appliances work in an economical and ecological manner. How many loads of laundry do you run in the average week? Do you run lots of small or hot water loads? This is wasteful as well. If you wish to conserve energy as well as water, wait until you can run full, cold water loads. Unless an item is very dirty, there's really no reason to use hot water. If you can get away without using the dryer, by all means please do so. Most people prefer the dryer to a clothesline because the dryer removes lint and keeps the garment wrinkle free. You'll get these same results if you run the dryer for only ten or fifteen minutes and then hang out your clothes.
An energy efficient home is always filled with appliances with high energy star ratings. Energy star appliances use less energy, making them more cost effective and environmentally sound. Even though all appliances must meet the Department of Energy's standards for conservation of energy, some meet only the bare minimum requirements. By comparing the EnergyGuide ratings, you can purchase the appliance that will not only save you the most money in the long run, but one that also best protects the environment.
Does your home feel drafty? If you want an energy efficient home, you must seal up all crevices and cracks with caulk or foam. The idea is to keep heat in during the winter and cool air in during the warmer months. Energy efficient doors and window will keep the air from leaking in and out.
An energy efficient home will employ the use of fluorescent light bulbs instead of the more traditional 60 or 100 watt bulbs. While the price tag might be higher, you should save more on your electric bill in the long run. Moreover, many utility companies will offer a rebate to those homeowners purchasing the more energy efficient bulbs. To see if your utility has a light bulb incentive policy, check its website or call its customer service line. You may even find other energy saving incentive policies in place.
Here are a few other things you can do to maintain an energy efficient home:
- Set the temperature of your water heater to 120 degrees (warm).
- Vacuum and clean all air conditioning and heating vents and filters. The cleaner they are, the more efficiently your home will run.
- Make sure your major appliances are set to the most efficient rating possible. There should be a recommendation on the controls.
- Wrap your water heater with an insulation blanket
- Install low flow shower heads and low flush toilets.
- Call your utility company and enquire about an energy audit. They will send someone to your home to recommend ways to save energy.
- See if you can get by with less heat or less air conditioning. Wear warmer clothing indoors in the winter and use ceiling fans and open windows in the summer,
- Plant shrubs and trees around your home for air conditioning through cost-reducing summer shade.
Did you know many new homes are now being described as "energy efficient?" These homes qualify for mortgage discounts, are loaded with energy star appliances, and are built to keep a family warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Since they follow a higher quality of construction, the home has less leaks and drafts, which means savings for the home owner. Some utility companies will even offer a percentage discount on gas and electricity bills.
It really pays to live in an energy efficient home. Not only does it cut down on utility cost, but it saves energy and adds fewer pollutants into the environment. Won't you try to make a difference?
