Being conscious of your energy consumption is an important part of being a home owner. Implementing a few strategies to adhere to green practices is an easy way to reduce your carbon footprint or save some money. Here are a few suggestions from Solar Innovations® on how to make your home more energy efficient.
Turn Off and Unplug
This may seem like common sense, but if you’re not using something, unplug it. Electronics continue to draw power even when they’re asleep or on standby, so if you’re done using it, make sure to pull it out of the socket. This applies to all electronics and appliances, including battery powered devices – when the battery is full, unplug the charger.
Lighting
Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs. These energy efficient bulbs give off the same amount of light as traditional bulbs, but at a lower energy cost. Another thing to do with your lighting is to place your lamps in corners. By doing this, light will bounce off of two walls instead of one, making your space brighter without the extra energy costs. You may also want to invest in putting your lights on a timer so they turn off automatically when no one is using them.
Heating and Cooling
It’s no surprise that air conditioners use a lot of energy, so in the summer, try substituting the AC for ceiling fans and open windows. This is also the season to remove your rugs and enjoy your bare tile and wood floors to keep cooler. If you absolutely can’t live without AC, be sure to change the filters and give it a yearly tune-up to assure peak performance.
When winter rolls around, make sure to leave your thermostat set between 65 and 68 degrees. Only raise the temperature one degree at a time, and only when absolutely necessary. Cover up your wooden and tile floors with rugs again to lock in heat. Also, properly insulating your home will also inhibit the entry of more cold air.
In the long run, it’s easy to reduce your energy consumption just by making a few changes to your everyday routine. For more information, contact us at [email protected].