We all need to do our bit for the environment. For a more energy efficient home, be sure to try out these top tips.
Whether you’ve lived in your home for years, or have just moved in, there are likely a number of things that you can do to improve energy efficiency in your home. Useful apps and smart technology are everywhere these days, and a number of new inventions have come about too that require much less energy than those of twenty or thirty years ago. In this article, we’ll take a look at four simple ways you can improve energy efficiency in your home.
1. Replace Your Incandescent Bulbs
In the last decade, manufacturers stopped producing incandescent light bulbs due to European regulations. While a lot of people preferred the glow of them to newer models, 90% of the energy they produced was as heat, rather than light. Nowadays, we have a choice between CFL and LED bulbs, with the latter being more popular. These last longer than incandescent bulbs and are more energy efficient too. The E27 LED bulbs, for example, last up to 50 times longer than incandescent bulbs. They come in a range of specifications with even dimmable options available.
2. Stop Using Hot Water in the Washing Machine
When you put a load of washing on, 10% of the energy your washing machine requires is to run the cycle, while 90% is used on heating the water up. Opting to wash your clothes on a cold wash will therefore lower your energy usage and save you money at the same time. Unless your clothes are particularly dirty or stained, a cool wash should be all that is required. In addition, do make sure to look for an A or A+ rated model when purchasing a new machine. This will further help to lower your energy costs.
3. Replace Your Desktop Computer
Most technology experts recommend that you purchase a new computer every four years. If yours is due for replacement soon, it’s worth looking into buying a laptop instead of a desktop PC. While laptops do tend to be more expensive, they’re a lot more energy efficient than desktop PCs, and could save you a lot of money in energy costs over their lifetime – especially if you work from home. Laptops require 80% less energy than desktop PCs and run on less energy too. They’re portable as well, which makes them more convenient for many.
4. Lower Your Thermostat
One of the main things that we spend money on during the winter months is heating our homes. And while we’re not suggesting that you completely turn the heating off and freeze to death, simply lowering your thermostat by a few degrees could save you a lot of money. According to Energy.gov, you can save as much as 15% on your energy bills simply by lowering your thermostat by 1-3 degrees. It’s a good idea to limit your use of space heaters too unless you have an energy efficient model. These eat up energy and are an expensive way to heat your home.
Saving energy isn’t hard work. What steps can you take to be more green?
