Conserving energy is good for the environment and can save you money each month. A few simple changes to your everyday living habits can make a big difference.
For example, turning down the thermostat in winter and turning off the TV when no one is watching will save you a lot of energy. Also, unplugging electronics and using power strips will cut down on “phantom” electricity.
Install Energy-Efficient Appliances
Having a home that uses less energy not only saves money but reduces your carbon footprint. It also helps you become more reliant on renewable energy sources like solar power.
Appliances and building-related equipment account for the majority of the energy used in the United States, and reducing that amount is a key strategy for decreasing the country’s energy consumption. To help reduce this usage, federal efficiency standards exist for appliances and equipment that compel manufacturers to design these products to expend less energy than standard models.
When shopping for new appliances, look for the ENERGY STAR label. This means that the product meets strict energy-efficiency guidelines set by the EPA and DOE, which will result in lower electricity consumption. Appliances that earn the ENERGY STAR label use 10 to 50 percent less electricity than the average model. While the initial cost of a high-efficiency appliance may be more than a non-ENERGY STAR appliance, you will quickly make up the difference in energy costs with lower utility bills.
Additionally, by replacing older appliances with more efficient ones, you are helping to combat greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming and climate change. These gases trap the Sun’s radiation in the atmosphere, which would otherwise reflect it back into space.
Purchasing and using efficient appliances, along with implementing other strategies to cut energy consumption such as adjusting the thermostat, turning off electronics when not in use, and using advanced power strips that reduce “vampire loads” can significantly decrease your utility bill. Although these changes may seem small, when combined with 7 billion other people doing the same thing, they can have a significant impact on your energy savings.
Optimize Your Heating and Cooling Systems
According to this energy comparison, the heating and cooling systems in commercial buildings consume significant energy. Optimizing these systems can help reduce energy consumption, which leads to lower utility costs and a greener environment.
Small gaps and cracks in doors, windows and attics can lead to lost cooled air in summer and warmed air in winter. Sealing these cracks can save up to 10% on heating and cooling costs. Insulation can also make a big difference in saving energy. It can be installed in attics, floors over crawl spaces and basements. In addition, upgrading windows with energy-efficient options can significantly reduce energy use.
Changing daily habits is another important way to improve energy conservation. Keep the thermostat a little higher in the summer and lower it in the winter to reduce energy usage. A few degrees may seem insignificant, but this change will significantly impact your energy bills and can help reduce the overall emissions from the generation of electricity.
If you are using a programmable thermostat, program it to stay at a set temperature during the day and then change back to a lower setting during the night. Changing your behavior can be challenging, but it’s worth the effort to reduce your carbon footprint and help with climate change.
If your building has high ceilings, consider installing ceiling fans to push warm air down to occupied areas. In loading areas, install infrared heaters or air curtains to help prevent cold, outside air from entering during unoccupied hours.
Maximize the Use of Natural Light
Aside from the obvious fact that a home or commercial property with lots of natural light is much more welcoming and inviting, it also helps to cut electricity costs. This is because relying on natural lighting reduces the need for electric lighting during the daytime, and less artificial light means lower electricity consumption.
One of the best ways to increase natural light in a building is by installing large windows and skylights. This design approach is known as daylighting, and it has a number of important benefits, including energy efficiency, cost savings, and improved health.
Another way to maximize natural light is by removing items that block sunlight, such as bookshelves and furniture. This allows the light to reach more areas of a room and eliminates the need for artificial lighting in those spaces. This is a common design element in offices and retail buildings, but it’s also something homeowners can implement in their homes by arranging heavily used rooms so that sunlight naturally illuminates those spaces during the day.
It’s also important to use light-colored paints and finishes in a building, as these elements reflect more sunlight. This creates a brighter and more spacious environment, which can reduce the need for artificial light during the daytime and decrease energy consumption.
By incorporating these strategies into building design, it’s possible to significantly reduce energy consumption in both residential and commercial spaces. The result is a more comfortable and attractive environment for building occupants, as well as reduced energy costs and environmental impact. And that’s a win for everyone. For more energy efficiency tips, visit our blog today! We have a wide variety of articles on topics ranging from how to improve your home’s energy efficiency to how to use LED bulbs.
Turn Off Electronics When Not in Use
Leaving a coffee pot or hair dryer plugged in can add up to significant energy use, and it’s an easy mistake to make. This type of waste is known as phantom power, standby power, vampire energy, or even silent electricity, and it can account for as much as 10% of your household’s electric bill. This is a form of wasted energy that contributes to higher electricity costs for homeowners and the greater environmental footprint of our entire country.
Unplugging these appliances and devices not only reduces your electrical bill but also helps to protect them from significant damage caused by power fluctuations. If you want to see just how much phantom energy is used by your electronics, consider purchasing an electricity monitor that shows the amount of wattage each device consumes at any given time, including when it’s turned off.
Some of the biggest offenders are your entertainment setups, with TVs and gaming systems using a lot of energy in their standby mode. It may not be practical to unplug these every night, but unplugging them when you’re done watching a show or playing your favorite game is a good idea. You can also consider plugging these items into a surge protector that allows you to turn them off in one simple step.
Other frequently overlooked sources of phantom power include laptops, desktop computers, printers, and phone chargers. These small appliances are constantly draining energy, and they’ll continue to do so even after they’re shut off and unplugged. You can also invest in a power strip that has multiple outlets, so you’ll only have to switch off the devices you use most often at one time.
Turn Off the Lights When You Leave
As you may know, energy conservation is a big deal. It helps lower your electricity bills, reduces the carbon emissions that contribute to climate change and protects the environment. Whether you are a homeowner or a renter, there are plenty of quick fixes that can help you save money and use less energy. Some of these strategies are easy to implement, while others require some more significant changes to your lifestyle.
Probably one of the most basic and effective energy-saving strategies is to make sure that all your lights are turned off when you leave a room. This can easily be done with a simple switch or even using voice-activated assistants like Alexa or Google Home. It is important to get into the habit of doing this regularly so that it becomes a natural part of your daily routine.
While you may think that leaving the lights on is not a big deal, it adds up over time and can increase your electricity consumption significantly. The amount of electricity that is used depends on the type of bulbs you have and their wattage. For example, a 4.8-watt LED bulb can add up to 0.0048 kWh to your energy consumption when left on for an hour.
When you consider that most homes have around 40 light fixtures, this can add up to a lot of extra energy usage each year. If you have traditional incandescent or halogen bulbs, it is especially important to turn them off when not needed. This will help to extend their life and prevent them from burning out quickly. It will also help to save on your electricity bill and minimize the impact on your energy plan from utility providers.
