8 Simple Ways to Save Energy in Your Home

Green living has become a hot topic over the past several years. As more people begin noticing worse weather and more extreme temperatures, it’s becoming clear that the climate is changing.

As a result, reports show that 46% of people are doing what they can to live more sustainably. That’s why it’s no surprise that you’re here trying to learn how to reduce your power usage. If you’re concerned about rising energy bills and want to make conserving energy a priority, there are things you can do to save energy at home. Keep reading to learn eight ways to cut your power bills and invest in green living.

1. Optimize Your Lighting

Traditional lighting uses a lot of power. Traditional bulbs aren’t energy efficient and burn out easily. That makes lighting one of the first places to look for people wanting to start with energy conservation.Newer bulbs, like LED bulbs, are much more energy efficient. They cost more upfront but will last longer and consume much less energy. You’ll save energy in the long run. Another great option is to stop closing your blinds. Let as much natural light as possible into your home to avoid turning on lights.

2. Use Smart Climate Control

Even though many people are now working from home, many others have returned to the office. That means the chances are good that you’ll have a lot of time during the day when nobody is home. It’s a mistake to leave your HVAC system running at full capacity during that time. Keeping the temperature comfortable when nobody is there is a big waste of energy. If conserving energy is your goal, switching your system off when you aren’t there pays. But it can be troublesome to remember to do this when you leave for work. Get a smart thermostat to automate the process.

3. Change Your Water Heater

Typical water heaters aren’t efficient. They spend the entire day keeping the water warm, even if nobody needs hot water. That leads to a lot of wasted electricity. If you want to be more efficient, switch to a tankless water heater. Instead of heating water the entire day, a tankless heater only warms the water when people turn the hot water on. The on-demand nature of these heaters means they are more energy efficient and will drop your power bills. The only issue you may face is if you need hot water from multiple sources simultaneously.

4. Upgrade to Energy Star

Old appliances weren’t energy efficient. There were no guidelines that helped appliance manufacturers design their equipment to use energy well. That’s not the case today. The Energy Star guidelines have been around for a while and guide companies through the best way to design their products for energy efficiency. If you have old appliances that need to be replaced, be sure to invest in Energy Star products. You don’t have to go out of your way to replace everything today. Wait until something goes bad to replace it with something that’s energy-efficient.

5. Insulate Your Home

Your insulation is what helps keep your home’s temperature stable. It’s material that sits in your walls and attic that prevents cold and hot air from escaping your walls. It also stops the weather outside from entering your home. But as time goes on, your insulation may start deteriorating. It largely depends on the insulation’s age and your insulation type. If you notice your energy bills increasing over time, it may be because of this problem. Have a home contractor inspect your insulation to see if it’s wise to add to it.

6. Seal Your Windows and Doors

Windows and doors do a great job at helping maintain your home’s climate when they’re newer. They seal well, so little atmosphere escapes from your home. However, those seals break down over time. You’ll get cracks and other issues that develop over time, making it harder for windows and doors to do their jobs. But you aren’t helpless in this situation. Many sealers and other products will help you repair those seals. Determine if you have sealing issues and fix them where possible.

7. Turn Things Off

Many people believe that leaving electronics and other things on isn’t a big deal. They aren’t wrong that these items don’t use much energy. But when you add up everything people have in their homes, it can add up. If you want to conserve as much energy as possible, turn off your things when they aren’t in use. At a bare minimum, switch things off when you’re done. You can also purchase smart power strips that completely cut power to electronics at certain times. Even if a product is off, it can still draw a current from the power outlet. Using smart power strips will cut that power to reduce your electricity usage even more.

8. Investigate Solar Panels
If you have more money to spend and really want to help the environment, it pays to investigate other types of energy. As a homeowner, you don’t have to rely on the power grid entirely.Most people will do this by looking into solar panels. They can help power some or all of your power needs. The amount of energy you generate will depend on your location, the solar installation size, and the panels’ placement.

Reach out to a solar company if you’re interested in learning more. Click to the following page to contact an experienced installer.