If you reduce your power usage, you can save money on the energy bill. If you decrease your power usage that means your lifestyle will also change, right? Wrong! There are many smart ways to save home energy that will not negatively affect your lifestyle, such as using one refrigerator, weatherizing the home, purchasing energy star-certified appliances, changing the rotation of your ceiling fan depending on the season, utilizing devices that are automated, and using low-wattage compact fluorescent bulbs.
Use One Refrigerator
One of the many smart ways to save home energy is to only use one refrigerator. Did you know that in the average American home, the refrigerator is responsible for using 15% of the house's energy consumption? It is both more energy-efficient and money-efficient to purchase a larger refrigerator than to use more than one. In addition, you should not use a fridge that was made before 1990, because those use two times as much energy as modern ones of the equivalent size. Usually, the newest models tend to be the most energy-efficient. If you are purchasing a new refrigerator, buy one that uses the least amount of electricity. In order to compare how much electricity a fridge uses, look at the yellow Energy Guide card posted on the product.
Weatherize the Home
Another method of saving energy in the home is to close the blinds and drapes in the summer. This will prevent direct sunlight from shining into the room and heating the place up. Naturally, your air conditioner would have to run more that way. By keeping your home as cool as possible during the summer, you can minimize how much air conditioning you need. During the winter time, you should leave the blinds and drapes open when possible, so that the sunlight can assist with heating your home. It is the same concept as preventing direct sunlight in the summer.
In order to utilize the sunlight more efficiently, you can have double-glazed windows installed. These have unique gases between the two panes that modulate and control heat flow through the glass.
Purchase Energy Star-Certified Appliances
Another great way of saving money and energy in the home is to purchase energy star-certified appliances. In order for a product to be energy star-certified, it must exceed the minimum efficiency standards by at least 13% to 20%. Don't be scared off by the higher initial cost of the appliance, because you will save so much more in the end via lower energy bills.
Change the Rotation of Your Ceiling Fan Depending on the Season
Ceiling fans function by creating a wind chill effect in order to make rooms feel cooler than they really are. During the summer, set the fan to feel the breeze. In the winter, reverse the rotation of the ceiling fan. This will lift the cool air and circulate the warm air throughout the room.
Utilize Devices that are Automated
Devices that are automated allow you to adjust a certain factor, without having to physically do it yourself. For example, there are programmable thermostats that can adjust the temperature after you leave for work, and right before you return home. There is no point in keeping the heat or air conditioning on all day if you are away for a good eight hours or more. But, no one likes to come home to an uncomfortable environment after a long day. The automated thermostat is the perfect solution. Another example of an automated device is the automated switch. This turns off the lights when there is no motion detected in the room. This is great for people who sometimes forget to turn off the lights when leaving a room.
Use Low-Wattage, Compact Fluorescent Bulbs
Did you know that you can cut up to 5% off of your energy bill by simply replacing your bulbs with low-wattage compact fluorescent bulbs? In conclusion, smart ways to save home energy are to use one refrigerator, weatherize the home, purchase energy star-certified appliances, change the rotation of your ceiling fan depending on the season, utilize devices that are automated, and use low-wattage compact fluorescent bulbs. Keep in mind that the ways to save home energy are not limited to these tips. Time is money. Energy is also money. Save money by implementing these useful tips.
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