Energy conservation entails utilising less energy in order to reduce expenses and environmental impact.
You can save energy and money at home in many simple ways. Reduce your home’s energy consumption to help reduce carbon dioxide emissions and the natural resources utilised to power your home. While commercial buildings can have a significant impact on energy use, there are numerous things you can do at home every day.
6 ways to conserve energy and electricity at home
Here are 15 ways to start conserving energy:
- Adjust your day-to-day behaviors
- Replace your light bulbs
- Use smart power strips
- Use energy-efficient appliances
- Reduce water heating expenses
- Use your air conditioning less
1. Adjust your day-to-day behaviors
To reduce energy consumption in your home and increase your energy savings, you do not necessarily need to go out and purchase energy-efficient products. Energy conservation can be as simple as turning off lights or appliances when you do not need them. You can also use energy-intensive appliances less by performing household tasks manually, such as hang-drying your clothes instead of putting them in the dryer or washing dishes by hand.
The behavior adjustments that have the highest potential for utility savings are turning down the heat on your thermostat in the winter and using your air conditioner less in the summer. Heating and cooling costs constitute nearly half of an average home’s utility bills, so these reductions in the intensity and frequency of heating and cooling offer the greatest savings.
There are tools known as energy monitors that you can use to figure out where most of your electricity is going in your home and which appliances are using the most electricity on a day-to-day basis.
2. Replace your light bulbs
Traditional incandescent light bulbs consume excessive electricity and must be replaced more often than their energy-efficient alternatives. Halogen incandescent bulbs, compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), and light-emitting diode bulbs (LEDs) use anywhere from 25-80 percent less electricity and last 3 to 25 times longer than traditional bulbs.
3. Use smart power strips
“Phantom energy,” also known as “standby energy” or “vampire energy,” is the electricity used by electronics when turned off or in standby mode. Standby energy is a major energy waste.
4. Purchase energy efficient appliances
When purchasing an appliance, you should pay attention to two numbers: the initial purchase price and the annual operating cost. Although energy-efficient appliances might have higher upfront purchase prices, they usually save you money on your monthly utility bill as well as energy.
5. Reduce your water heating expenses
Water heating is a major contributor to your total energy usage. Other than purchasing an energy-efficient water heater, there are three methods of reducing your water heating expenses: use less hot water, turn down the thermostat on your water heater, or insulate your water heater along with the first six feet of hot and cold water pipes.
If you are considering replacing your water heater with an efficient model, you should consider two factors: the type of water heater that meets your needs and the fuel it will use. For example, tankless water heaters are energy efficient, but they are also a poor choice for large families as they cannot handle multiple and simultaneous uses of hot water. Heat pump water heaters are one of the most efficient ways to heat your home’s water.