With much of the global community homebound for most of this year to slow down the spread of COVID-19, our homes have been working extra hard. Air conditioners are running to keep you cool during warm afternoons. Heaters are also running overtime to keep you warm during the cold season. Since you’re spending time at home, all meals are being prepped in the house, demanding much more from your cookers, microwaves, dishwashers, and coffeemakers.
The use of home electricity has gone up this year compared to last year, which has shifted the burden of utility costs, from commercial buildings to individuals, and it’s a trend that’s not likely to end soon. While countries are starting to ease restrictions, many people who are fortunate enough and still have jobs will be working from home in the future. To make it easy on you and your pocket, you can compare energy prices and get the best deal, but you also need to change your lifestyle to save energy. Here are some tips on how to save energy and money at home with a more sustainable and less wasteful lifestyle.
Air conditioning
If you use more energy going into your house than going out, you’ll have a build-up of energy, which will increase temperatures. The purpose of the air conditioning system in your home is to use a lot of energy to control your home’s temperature. It uses an amount of energy equivalent to the heat in your home, and this may not be an efficient model for conservation as it works directly against nature. Here’s how to reduce heating and cooling costs in your home.
Use a programmable thermostat.
Instead of setting a single temperature set point on the thermostat, you can vary it throughout your day. For example, when it’s too hot, you can open the windows and let in fresh air into the house. This will ease the energy the thermostat uses to cool the hot air in your home. If you don’t have an automatic thermostat, you can turn it up or down to your desired temperature. The reason for programming your thermostat is to reduce the operating time of your air conditioning system.
Change your air filter.
A dirty air filter means that the fan in your air conditioning system works even harder to circulate air. This means that the fan uses more energy to push air through the grime and dirt in your filter. You can replace it once every three months and if you live in rental apartments, ask the maintenance staff to do it.
Water heating
Water is costly to heat much more than air. Water is denser than air, which means you need more energy to heat it. Some water heaters use natural gas or solar, which is more efficient than electricity. But then, most water heaters for people living in towns and apartments use electricity. Here are a few tips for reducing the cost of heating your water, which help reduce your utility bills.
Use fewer loads and cold water in your washing machine.
Fewer loads of laundry means you’ll use less hot water. You can wash the whites and towels with hot water, and then, for everyday wear, you can use cold water, and they will still be clean.
Since you’re also spending most of your time at home, you can also save energy by hanging your laundry out to dry. This will save energy used by the washing machine to dry the laundry. You can use an indoor rack or have a hanging line outside, which works perfectly to dry your clothes.
Use energy-efficient faucets.
Other major users of hot water in your home are your plumbing fixtures, specifically your shower and sinks. Low-flow showers and faucets will reduce your hot water usage and reduce your water heater’s energy demand. The fixtures will also reduce your water usage and water bill.
Also, reducing your time spent in the shower helps, too, and be careful when washing dishes. Don’t leave the hot water running for too long.
Power outlets
Your air conditioning and water heating system are utilities, which are hard-wired into your electrical system. The other systems in your home can operate using power outlets, which you can also control. Here are some tips to reduce energy from your power outlets.
Use modern power strips.
A lot of energy is wasted on appliances that are plugged in and aren’t in use. A power strip will let you control devices on stand-by because they come with technology to minimize saving levels and prevent power usage by chargers, toasters, and other appliances.
Use energy-saving light bulbs.
When you go to buy light bulbs, you may see energy-efficient options. Artificial light is one of the most inefficient uses of electricity. It involves the conversion of valuable electricity to heat, which produces light. Switching to energy-saving bulbs will save you a lot. You can also reduce the amount of time you’re using lights in your home. During the day, open the curtains and let in natural light to save energy and electricity bills.
Avoid leaving out refrigerated items.
A refrigerator’s job is to cool the air inside it, and if you leave out items that are meant to be in the fridge out for too long, then it means the fridge will use too much energy to cool down that item again. Putting warm items in the refrigerator isn’t a good idea. They will create warm air in the fridge, and the fridge will work extra hard to cool down the item, which means more energy will be used. Quickly replace items in the refrigerator after use, and let your food cool down before putting it in the fridge.
Reducing the energy you use in your home is a great way to help the environment and save money. Implement these simple tips and watch your monthly bills decrease.
