Top 5 ways to save energy at home
1. Switch to energy efficient lights and fans
One of the most effective and easiest ways to reduce your energy bills is to change the lighting in your home to fluorescent bulbs. Skeptics have raised concerns about the safe environmental disposal of these bulbs due to their mercury content. However, if you follow the proper removal instructions, this concern is completely resolved.
A single fluorescent bulb can produce light equivalent to an incandescent lamp at a cost of 70 to 80 percent less. So if you switch the entire lighting in your home to this form of energy efficient lighting, you can substantially reduce your energy costs. Similarly, install ceiling fans or purchase portable pedestal fans for your home. This will reduce your need for air conditioning in the summers and is also a more environmentally friendly alternative.
2. Weatherstrips for doors and windows
One of the best lines of defense against the sun in hot summers and cold winds and snow in winters is weather stripping.* Once you put weather stripping on every window and door in your home, you’ll be amazed at how much it reduces your energy bill.
Identify other gaps in your home for heat loss, such as mechanical shutters, mail slots, chimneys, and exterior wall vents. Air leaks are one of the key factors responsible for heat loss in your home, so plug leaks.
3. Regularly maintain all electrical appliances
Make sure the various appliances in your home, such as the refrigerator, freezer, dishwasher, washer and dryer, microwave, and other kitchen appliances, are kept in tip-top condition and operational.
Simple DIY maintenance projects can do the work for you, or you can do an annual appliance maintenance and repair contract with a professional company. This will significantly reduce your home’s energy consumption over a period of time.
4.Use appliances efficiently
When you use the washer with your dryer, try to wash most of your clothes in one cycle. This will ensure multiple loads of clothes are dried while the dryer is already hot. Similarly, adjust the temperature of your fridge and freezer according to the load and your cooling needs. If you have a computer at home, set it to automatic deep sleep mode to save power when not in use.
5. Install a solar device
If your environment gets a lot of sunlight for most of the year, consider installing a solar energy device or solar panels on your roof to lower your monthly energy bills. Solar energy is clean, green and renewable. You may also receive tax credits for such a move. Lead by example and conserve the environment while lowering your energy costs with a solar device.
Reference:
* http://energy.gov/energysaver/articles/weathertripping