The important of energy efficiency is in the spotlight and remains the talk of the town. With increasing awareness of preserving the environment, it is becoming easier to maintain a low energy home. By definition, a low energy home is something that uses all its resources including water, electricity and other utilities with complete efficiency and little to no wastage. While saving energy can seem like a lot of work, it offers many benefits. Apart from reducing your carbon footprint and the environmental impact, you can effectively reduce your bills and make substantial savings over the course of a few years.
Simple practices like setting solar power heating, rain harvesting etc can reduce your home’s negative impact on the environment. While you do not have to give up any essential utility be it your computer, your mobile phones or even your large flatscreen TV, there are many methods you adopt to reduce wastage of precious resources. Small changes around the house can reap big results and help you become a responsible and eco-friendly resident of the planet. If you are serious about turning your home into a low energy one, here’s how you can do it.
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Here are some quick fix tips to get started on creating a low energy home.
Laundry and washing: When doing the laundry or your dishes in an appliance, ensure that your washing machine or dishwasher is fully loaded. Instead of using the dryer extensively, air-dry your clothes and dishes.
Heating and cooling: If you have a thermostat at home, install a programmable one that can help reduce energy costs and cool or heat your home efficiently. Do not use extreme temperatures on your thermostat or air conditioner to reduce strain and power consumption.
Energy consumption: Simple practices like switching off electronic appliances when not in use is the best way to reduce your electricity bill. When you are not at home or in the room, ensure that all lights are switched off and electronic equipment is unplugged. You can also make the switch from old bulbs to CFL or LED lighting that provide equal brightness at a fraction of the cost.
Saving water: All leaky faucets should be fixed immediately. While they may seem to drip little at a time, the overall wastage of water is massive when left unchecked. Instead of taking baths, take quick showers and use low flow showerheads to save more water. You can also install low volume flush tanks that use less water to keep your toilets clean.
The green factor: Owing to the increasing of being green, most new appliances today come with an energy savings certificate. Ensure that you study these energy ratings on the appliance before you purchase them. It is better to own a new and effective appliance than to save money by using old and ineffective ones.
While these practices may not seem as extensive as you imagine, they can reap great results in the course of a single year, saving you thousands on your water, energy and other utility bills.
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