If you’re serious about lowering your energy usage in your home, then there are a number of steps you can take to save the environment, as well as the money in your pocket. Many of the gadgets you already use can be operated on less power, and it only takes a little common sense to implement these changes. Some of the best changes you can make don’t require any extra equipment, so you can even start lowering your electricity usage right now!
If you do want to spend a bit of time figuring out how your home is using too much electricity, then there are some smart gadgets that can identify your consumption down to the wire – literally. Not only can these programs tell you what to unplug and how to better use your energy, but they can also suggest alternative products that will reduce the impact your home has on the environment. From eco-friendly fridges to power-saving light bulbs, it’s easy to reduce the amount of electricity you waste; you just have to know how!
Turn Off Your Lights
First things first – turn off all the lights that you’re not using in your home! It seems pretty obvious, but the amount of energy that is wasted from light bulbs being left on is exponential. From walk-in wardrobes to basements, there are light bulbs hiding everywhere, so make sure you turn everything off you’re not using.
The old style light bulbs generate maximum brightness straight away, meaning there’s a lot of energy wasted if you only need light for a moment or two. New compact fluorescent light bulbs are energy-saving in design, and surprisingly use up to one third less power than old style light bulbs, and they also last up to fifteen times longer as well. If you want to start saving money on your electricity bills, then you’ll want to change all your lights to compact fluorescent bulbs.
Unplug Appliances That You Don’t use
Stand-by lights are one of the worst wasters of electricity in the home, and you could save up to £86 pounds every year just by unplugging the items that you don’t use. Even businesses have taken to turning off their unused equipment during the night, switching to processes like anaerobic digestion to produce safe and renewable power. Take televisions for example. Just because you power down the appliance, it doesn’t mean than the gadget isn’t on stand-by. By switching off the power at the socket, you’ll be saving money, reducing your electricity usage and helping the environment!
Air Conditioning
Unless you’re able to keep track of how many times you use your air con, then tracking your power usage can be a tough task, especially when you’re comparing usage between other appliances. There are a number of ways to reduce the amount of electricity you waste through air con, and the simplest suggestion we can make is to turn it off! We’ve also got some alternatives to running your air conditioning too.
Firstly, you can try placing a bag of open ice in front of a fan. This works well if you’re looking for quick relief, but it won’t go as far as cooling your entire house. Then there’s turning off the electronics that generate excess heat. A laptop’s fan generates a lot of heat, so don’t leave it on unless you’re working on it. Finally, dark curtains absorb heat, and that heat is then circulated around the house. Try opting for lighter shades of materials and you’ll be onto a winner!
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