1 Easy Energy Efficiency Tips

There are lots of things you can do around the home to save energy and be more green and efficient. Rising energy prices, climate change, and ecological damage are just three reasons why we should all do our best to be more environmentally conscious, help reduce reliance on fossil fuels and save more energy, and the associated cost savings are a welcome bonus.

 

Heat Insulation in the Home

The majority of energy used in the home is used for heating and cooling systems, and people often fail to realize just how inefficient they are being with these systems.

Insulation is important to keep heat in during the winter months and to keep heat out during the summer months. Most unwanted heat transfer happens through the roof so this is the area you should focus on. There are many different types of insulation product available, including fiberglass and polyester. 

The R-value is a measurement of how insulating a piece of material is, and this is what you should use to compare between different products. The cooler and more temperate the climate you live in, the higher R-value you will need. In general you want a higher R-value for the roof than for the walls. In humid climates you need to be careful not to have a R-value that is too high, as this may cause overheating with homes that are exposed to the sun.

It is a good idea to close-off and turn off the heating in rooms that are not in use, and to check for all sources of draughts (such as vents and ducts) to ensure they are sealed effectively. This is especially important in dryer climates – always know your climate!

How Low Can You Go?

When the cold sets in, many people instinctively turn up the thermostat. But you can save significant amounts of money and energy just by turning the heating down by a single degree. Better yet, you can always turn down the thermostat in stages and see if you are comfortable with the temperature. If you get to a point where it is too cold, at least you know the most energy efficient temperature for the current weather. In smaller rooms you can often get away with having the heating turned off completely by using extra blankets for the beds.

Washing, Cooking and Cleaning

Use the lowest temperature setting on your clothes washer (or as low as you can possibly have it). Any good clothes washer will have low temperature options, and as long as the clothes you put in are not heavily soiled and do not have stains you will still gain excellent cleaning performance. To help improve the cleaning performance of your washer at low temperatures, buy detergents that work well in low temperatures.

Clothes dryers use a lot of energy, so dry your clothes outside on the line whenever possible or use clothes stands next to a window. For both washers and dryers, wait until you have a full load of clothing before you use them.

In the kitchen, the oven uses the most energy out of any cooking appliance. Reduce your reliance on your oven and switch to the microwave or the frying pan. When boiling water, you should only ever boil the amount you need. It is more efficient to boil water with a kettle than with a stove.