Environmental issues

The energy consumption is one of the most important positions in every family budget. We would love to reduce it as much as possible, but we don’t want to change our way of life too much. Is a marriage of these two value - energy efficiency and our habits - possible? Yes, it is. Here are a few things you can do to limit your electricity needs without turning your life upside down.

Keep in mind that the prime reason for your high energy bills is heating and cooling of your house. Do your best to have only the best and most modern heating systems installed. Also, remember that you have to keep an eye on them and service them regularly in order to keep your furnace and air conditioning system work at peak efficiency.

When you’re done with the heating and air conditioning, the next step is to make sure your house doesn’t have any leaks and drafts. Especially, make sure that your storm windows are in good condition. Use them to reduce the temperature loss. Also, make sure that your doors and windows close tightly. They are major sources of energy loss.

Your thermostat is the brain of your whole energy-saving operation. Make sure it is a good one and that its sensors are installed properly. It is also a good idea to play with its settings a bit - usually keeping your house a bit warmer during hot months and cooler during the winter is good both for your health and energy bills.

Consider purchasing new Energy Star-certified appliances instead of your old ones. Old fridges or washers may use even twice as much energy as newer, more energy-efficient models. In most cases new appliances pay off in a few years’ time at most. One more thing: be responsible and try to give your old stuff to some recycling center instead of throwing it away.

Remember that the water heater is probably set above the recommended 120 degrees. Turn it down or even better, use cold water during laundry if only you can. This will negate the risk of burns and thus get rid of a big problem for every parent.

The “sleep mode” is not the same as turning the appliance down. Perform hard power downs on any electronic appliance in the house when you don’t use it. Keeping them on will cost you quite a bit per year. If your appliances have Energy Star features, make sure you enable them. It would be a pity to have energy saving options and never use them.

You can also save a lot of money by installing fluorescent bulbs. They cost a bit more than the standard ones, but they use much less energy and they last twice as long as the old bulbs. In short, they pay off very quickly and can help you reduce your electricity bills by a few hundred dollars.

Tags: conservation
Filed under: conservation