It is a fact that we are using and wasting quite a lot of energy in everyday life. Such a lifestyle leads to a relatively high carbon footprint. This is not beneficial for our planet. We need to make our homes more energy-efficient to reduce our carbon footprint and utility costs. There are a few plausible and highly functional ways to do that. Keep reading to learn more about making your home more energy efficient with handy tips for reducing your carbon footprint and saving money.
One of the first and simplest things you can do is switch to energy-saving lights – most of us have already done this. The following essential thing is to insulate your entire home, including walls, ceilings and floors. Then, you need to find some efficient ways to use water generally and hot water specifically. Moreover, consider installing a Standby Power Controller and upgrading windows and doors if they are outdated and non-functional.
Switch to energy-saving lights
The most effective way to save money on lighting is to turn off lights when they’re not in use and replace old bulbs with energy-efficient LED bulbs. LED bulbs have a longer lifespan and consume less energy than CFLs (Compact Fluorescent Lamps). While LEDs may initially be more expensive to buy than CFLs, but their manufacturing costs and retail prices are decreasing rapidly due to technological advancements.
Additionally, LED bulbs have a significantly longer lifespan than traditional bulbs, lasting between 35 to 50 times longer and 2 to 5 times longer than fluorescent lights. Therefore, even though LED bulbs may require a higher upfront investment, they ultimately save money in the long run. You can explore further resources for more information about incorporating LED lighting in your business.
Insulate your home: walls, ceiling, floors
Insulation of the entire house is a quintessential aspect that will save quite a lot of energy you otherwise use on heating and cooling your home. These costs are pretty high. To reduce them and to be eco-friendlier, you should insulate your home ASAP if it’s not already insulated. Also, if you want to buy a new home, pay attention to its insulation – it means a lot when insulated. When looking for a house to buy, it is best to hire professional Point Cook real estate agents (if your goal is to purchase a home in Melbourne) who will find you a dream home that is also energy-efficient.
Be efficient with (hot) water
According to some statistics, hot water consumption accounts for 16% of the total energy costs in an average house. You will agree that the percentage is significant. However, nowadays, we can be efficient not only in saving water generally but in optimising hot water usage as well. To save water generally, you can install water-saving taps, shower and toilet flushing systems. You can significantly reduce your energy bill by optimising hot water usage. When deciding on an energy-efficient hot water system, it’s crucial to consider factors such as the number of people in the household, the preference for either instant or storage systems, and the available budget. Here is some helpful information to assist you in making the appropriate choice for a new hot water system.
Install a Standby Power Controller (SPC)
When it comes to appliances around the house, we normally use many of them for various purposes. You probably noticed that some of them show a red light when plugged in but not being used. This means that it uses energy even on standby. You need to unplug these appliances at the wall – which could be more optimal or install a Standby Power Controller (SPC). An SPC is comparable to a power board and serves as a device that monitors the power usage of a primary appliance, like a TV or computer. It can switch off the power supply to devices connected to the same board, such as printers, scanners, and DVD players.
The purpose of SPCs is to conserve energy by automatically turning off the controlled devices when it detects that the master appliance is in standby mode. If you want to learn more about SPCs, including a list of accredited installers, you can visit the website of the Victorian Energy Efficiency Target (VEET) scheme.
Consider upgrading windows and doors
Windows and doors are another crucial aspect of making your home more energy-efficient. If they are outdated, you should consider upgrading them. When we say outdated, we mean outdated, as in non-functional. To preserve energy and reduce heating and cooling costs, they need to be able to super-seal your home so the heat/cold doesn’t leave/enter your home, depending on the season. This is quite an investment but pays off in the long run. An eco-friendly home is the home of the future.
There are so many ways we can increase the energetic efficiency of our home. We suggest starting with small ones and slowly moving to larger and costlier projects.
Read more: Business Energy Efficiency Tips
