Ever modern home depends on electricity for comfort, security, and convenience. Household appliances consume energy every day to et us maintain our lifestyles. Many face a large total at the end of every month, resulting in high energy bills. Uncontrolled consumption also has a negative impact on the environment. Making a house more energy efficient should be everyone’s priority. Below are some effective ways of doing this:
Retrofit Lights
The retrofit lights in a house are among the biggest consumers of electricity. If you can get this down, then it would be a big help. The problem with older bulb technologies is that they require a lot of power just to give off a small amount of illumination. Many of them are now being replaced by LEDs which only require a fraction of the power. Most LED bulbs are compatible with standard receptacles so the retrofit lights should have minimal cost. Just take out the old and screw in the new. Some LEDs also come in different shapes, sizes, and colors for more eye-catching lights.
Upgrade Thermostat
The heater and air conditioner are responsible for the vast majority of household consumption. You can reduce this by using them less and having milder temperature settings, but you can take it one step further by upgrading your thermostat to a programmable one. This will let you set specific temperatures at certain times of the day. You can automatically have it turn off when you’re at the office and have it turn on 30 minutes before you arrive. Experiment with the settings until you find what works for you. The important thing is that everything is automated so you save money without having to think about it.
Improved Insulation
The envelope of the house must have good insulation to prevent heat transfer. Check if there are cracks that you can seal up along the walls and around the windows. Block the paths where air can escape. Add insulating material to the roof which bears the brunt of the sun’s rays in the summer and holds snow build-up in the winter. You can even switch to double paned windows with inert gas in the middle to set in this cause. The doors can be equipped with weather stripping. Ask a contractor for other ways in which you can improve your home’s insulation and energy efficiency.
Make your house eco-friendly and easier on your wallet by enhancing efficiency.