Home energy conservation is not only good for saving money, it makes for an environmentally safe house. Learn how you can make your home more energy efficient.
Conserving energy is an issue on everyone's mind. We all care for the environment and we all want to protect the future. How many of us, however, have an environmentally safe house? It's not difficult to conserve energy in your home. In fact, once you incorporate a few simple ideas into your everyday routine, it's bound to become common practice.
Turn off lights and appliances that aren't being used - If you're done in a room, turn out the light. If you're not actually watching television or listening to music, turn them off. When shutting down your computer, use the power strip which will turn it completely off. A good rule is: if it's not in use, shut it off.
Take advantage of off-peak hours - Try to run your appliances during off-peak hours. Instead of doing the laundry as soon as you come home from work or school, do it at night or early in the morning. 4 PM to 6 PM seems to be the time everyone else is using their appliances so do try to curb heavy usage during these hours.
Don't rely so much on hot water and the clothes dryer - When doing the laundry, avoid the use of hot water which takes more energy. Also don't run small or partial loads. Only use the washing machine or dryer if you have a full load. In addition, take advantage of your outdoor clothes line. If you do use your dryer, be sure to clean out the lint trap after each use. Failure to do so requires the dryer to use more energy.
Ditto the Dishwasher - Only run the dishwasher if it's completely full. If you're a family of two or three, there's really no reason not to do the dishes by hand every night anyway.
Do away with drafts - Install energy efficient doors and windows. These will keep in the cold or warm air which means you won't have to run your air conditioner or heating unit as often. Install energy stripping around older doors and windows.
Switch out some of those light bulbs - Instead of buying your normal 60 watters at the supermarket, try instead to install energy efficient fluorescent light bulbs. These may be a little more costly but they last years longer, use less energy and end up paying for themselves. Your utility company may even offer a rebate for using these bulbs.
Use ceiling fans instead of air conditioning - This saves energy and electricity, which also adds up to lower utility bills.
Check your home for leaks - Walk indoors and out, in the basement and attic to check every room for cracks and leaks where air can escape. If you're not sure you're the right person for the job, you can have someone come in and do an "energy audit," which will give you an explanation of the different ways energy is wasted in your home and how this can be corrected.
Close vents and doors in unused rooms - If you have guest rooms or other spaces that aren't in use year round, turn off the vents and close the door. Why heat or cool a room you won't be using? When company comes again, you can open the vent again.
Lower your thermostat - Did you know each time you lower your thermostat by one degree you can save up to 3% on your gas bill? Giving it a little nudge can add up and lead to significant savings. If anything, turn the heat down at night while everyone is sleeping.
Don't refrigerate hot food - If you place hot food in the refrigerator or freezer, the appliance will have to work harder to keep everything cool. Instead, let food completely cool off before placing it in the fridge.
Look for the energy star - When purchasing new appliances, look for the energy star rating guaranteeing energy efficiency.
Nuke your food - Did you know if you use a microwave instead of a stove or oven to heat your food you can cut the energy used for cooking by 50%!
Insulate - Insulate basements and attics to keep your house warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. Investing in a little insulation now will save energy as well as money in the future.
Your utility company and various environmental agencies are happy to provide you with a list of ways in which you can conserve energy - and money. Why not contact them for a list of ways you can save? Some utility companies and government agencies also offer incentive and rebate programs for doing little things around the home to conserve energy. This planet has given us so much, isn't it time to give a little bit back? Besides, conserving energy almost always means saving money. If that isn't incentive, what is?
