101 modi per risparmiare energia per una casa a basso consumo energetico
L'energia è qualcosa che è stato dato per scontato per secoli. I nostri stili di vita dipendono così tanto dall'energia che la usiamo anche senza pensare. Dalla ricarica dei nostri telefoni al riscaldamento dell'acqua, ci affidiamo a una fornitura di energia costante per soddisfare le nostre esigenze quotidiane. Nonostante i maggiori sforzi per risparmiare energia, il passaggio all'energia pulita e rinnovabile rimane un work in progress. I combustibili fossili sono ancora la fonte di energia primaria per soddisfare il nostro fabbisogno energetico, contribuendo in modo significativo al riscaldamento globale.
L'impatto dell'uso eccessivo di energia può essere sentito in tutto il mondo con un aumento dell'inquinamento atmosferico, dei pericoli per la fauna selvatica e altro ancora. Risparmiare energia significa produrre meno. Questo non solo può ridurre la nostra impronta di carbonio, ma può anche ridurre significativamente le nostre bollette. Modificando determinate abitudini, possiamo scegliere di fare la differenza che aiuterà l'ambiente e aumenterà i nostri risparmi.
Ci sono molti modi in cui puoi iniziare a contribuire al risparmio energetico. Essendo un appassionato di tecnologia intelligente, siamo sbalorditi dal modo in cui la tecnologia intelligente, come l'aria condizionata intelligente, può aiutare a creare un impatto. Insieme a questo, continua a leggere per scoprire 101 modi in cui puoi rendere la tua casa efficiente dal punto di vista energetico e risparmiare energia per un domani migliore!
101 Guida al risparmio energetico- Statistiche sul consumo di energia
- Suggerimenti tecnici e HVAC per risparmiare energia
- Idee per il risparmio energetico per la tua casa
- Suggerimenti per l'illuminazione per risparmiare energia
- Suggerimenti sullo stile di vita e sul comportamento per il risparmio energetico
- Suggerimenti per i tuoi elettrodomestici per risparmiare energia
Statistiche sul consumo di energia
Prima di approfondire come risparmiare energia, è essenziale capire perché è necessario farlo. Nessuna delle seguenti figure dipinge un bel quadro rendendo il nostro consumo di energia motivo di preoccupazione.
Nel 2018 è stato osservato un aumento del 2,3% della domanda globale di energia. Nell'anno 2019, il consumo di energia primaria negli Stati Uniti è stato di circa 100,2 quadrilioni di BTU. Gli Stati Uniti hanno meno del 5% della popolazione mondiale ma consumano ancora il 17% dell'energia mondiale.
Inoltre, lo sapevi che il consumo di elettricità residenziale negli Stati Uniti è di 11,8 kilowattora (kWh) a persona? Gli Stati Uniti producono il 15% delle emissioni mondiali di CO2 legate all'energia. Questo rende più che mai essenziale per noi iniziare a svolgere un ruolo nel risparmio energetico.
Che tu stia cercando consigli per il risparmio energetico per l'inverno o l'estate. Esistono diversi modi per risparmiare energia, che vanno da semplici aggiustamenti comportamentali a ampi miglioramenti domestici. Li abbiamo suddivisi in cinque categorie:tecnologia, casa, illuminazione, cambiamenti nello stile di vita ed elettrodomestici.
Approfondiamo ognuna delle nostre 101 idee per risparmiare energia !
Suggerimenti tecnici e HVAC per risparmiare energia
1. Risparmia energia con la tecnologia verde
La tecnologia verde non solo consente di risparmiare sulle emissioni di carbonio, ma anche sulle bollette. Cerca di diventare verde quando possibile. Può avere un costo iniziale elevato ma costi inferiori per l'esecuzione. L'integrazione di misure ecocompatibili all'interno della tua famiglia può fare una grande differenza nelle bollette energetiche.
Pannelli solari, generatori eolici, pompe di calore geotermiche sono tutti alcuni dei modi in cui puoi sfruttare l'energia gratuita e ottenere comunque comfort e convenienza.
2. Rendi la tua casa intelligente
Rendi la tua casa intelligente ed efficiente dal punto di vista energetico con i dispositivi per la casa intelligente. L'illuminazione intelligente o il riscaldamento e il raffreddamento intelligenti, ecc. possono aiutare in modo significativo a ridurre lo spreco di energia. La tecnologia intelligente non deve essere costosa; ad esempio, i controller AC intelligenti possono funzionare con qualsiasi condizionatore d'aria senza condotto e dotarlo di funzionalità intelligenti, mentre i termostati intelligenti possono essere abbinati a sistemi HVAC canalizzati. Utilizzando geofencing, pianificazione, automazione, trigger basati sulle condizioni e altre funzionalità, puoi facilmente migliorare il tuo comfort e risparmiare energia. Ecco come ridurre le bollette dell'aria condizionata utilizzando i controller Aria intelligenti Cielo.
Controller CA Cisco Smart.
La scelta migliore per rendere smart qualsiasi AC
Acquistare ora
3. Utilizzo degli assistenti domestici (Alexa/Google Home)
Gli assistenti domestici intelligenti come Google Home e Amazon Alexa integrano l'intera casa in un'unica interfaccia intuitiva, consentendo transizioni senza interruzioni e il controllo di più dispositivi con comandi vocali. Oltre al comfort e alla praticità, anche il risparmio energetico fa parte del pacchetto.
Con un comando vocale puoi spegnere le luci, il raffreddamento, la televisione e molto altro! Puoi anche permettere alle tue tende di imparare che fuori c'è il sole, in modo che si aprano durante una giornata invernale e il tuo riscaldamento può diminuire automaticamente per risparmiare energia.
4. Usa elettrodomestici con buone valutazioni energetiche
Non tutti gli elettrodomestici sono uguali. Anche all'interno della stessa categoria di elettrodomestici, produttori e modelli diversi avrebbero modelli di consumo energetico diversi. Assicurati di scegliere quello con una buona classificazione energetica. Tale apparecchio ha una migliore qualità dei materiali, controlli di qualità più rigorosi e processi di produzione superiori.
Rendi il tuo AC Smart
Cielo Breez Plus
Il miglior controller CA intelligente del settore con controlli locali
Acquista ora$ 114$ 149
Cielo Breez Eco
Controller AC intelligente più apprezzato in bianco
Acquista ora$ 73$ 99
Cielo Breez Eco
Controller AC intelligente più apprezzato in nero
Esaurito $ 68 $ 995. Fai attenzione alla valutazione SEER durante l'acquisto di elettrodomestici HVAC
SEER sta per Rapporto di efficienza energetica stagionale. È una misura dell'efficienza di un'unità. Una valutazione SEER più alta significa maggiore efficienza dell'apparecchio e maggiore risparmio energetico. Con normative più severe da parte del Dipartimento dell'Energia degli Stati Uniti, tutti i sistemi di condizionatori d'aria split negli Stati Uniti, dopo il 2015, devono avere una valutazione SEER di almeno 14. Ma ci sono apparecchi sul mercato con un SEER a metà 20s, portando a un risparmio energetico ancora maggiore.
6. Usa prese multiple a risparmio energetico
Molti dispositivi elettrici continuano ad assorbire energia anche quando sono spenti o in modalità standby. Ciò è dovuto ai "carichi fantasma". Pertanto, è una saggia decisione ridurre al minimo il consumo di energia occupandosi dell'alimentazione in standby. Le funzionalità integrate nelle prese multiple a risparmio energetico impediscono al tuo elettrodomestico di attingere energia quando è spento.
7. Passa alla modalità di risparmio energetico
La maggior parte, se non tutti, gli elettrodomestici e i dispositivi come condizionatori d'aria o telefoni oggigiorno hanno una modalità di risparmio energetico integrata. Prendendo l'esempio di un AC, l'unità funzionerà a bassa potenza, con velocità e oscillazione della ventola ridotte. Con un consumo di energia ridotto ma comunque una temperatura confortevole, questa è una situazione vantaggiosa per tutti. Se disponi di un AC intelligente o di un controllo AC intelligente, puoi utilizzare speciali funzioni di risparmio energetico e la pianificazione per risparmiare di più.
8. Acquista dispositivi Energy Star
Energy Star è un programma dell'Agenzia per la protezione ambientale degli Stati Uniti progettato per promuovere prodotti ad alta efficienza energetica. Questa riduzione del consumo di energia può essere ottenuta in diversi modi, i principali sono l'uso di materiali a minor consumo energetico e la tecnologia moderna. In media, i condizionatori d'aria certificati Energy Star possono risparmiare fino all'8% sul consumo di energia rispetto ai normali condizionatori d'aria sul mercato.
9. Scegli le opzioni per l'energia solare
Dopo l'investimento iniziale, i pannelli solari possono essere utilizzati come fonte di energia gratuita, con una manutenzione minima richiesta. Il processo di sostituzione della batteria deve essere eseguito ogni tre anni o più. Con i progressi quotidiani della tecnologia solare, anche il costo iniziale sta diminuendo e i pannelli solari stanno diventando un'opzione di risparmio energetico sempre più interessante.
10. Pianifica le ispezioni per la tua tecnologia
La manutenzione preventiva di tutti gli elettrodomestici può farti risparmiare denaro a lungo termine e contribuire alle prestazioni efficienti del tuo dispositivo. La manutenzione di routine dell'HVAC è fondamentale per il funzionamento efficiente della tua aria condizionata.
11. Cambia regolarmente i filtri dei tuoi apparecchi di riscaldamento e raffreddamento
Se stai utilizzando deumidificatori, condizionatori d'aria o qualsiasi attrezzatura simile come passaggio iniziale per una manutenzione regolare, dovresti pulire tempestivamente i filtri. I filtri intasati possono bloccare la presa d'aria di un condizionatore d'aria, costringendolo a lavorare a un'impostazione di potenza più alta per mantenere lo stesso raffreddamento. Questo può essere piuttosto costoso in quanto si traduce in un maggiore consumo di energia e potenza.
12. Utilizzo di Deumidificatori
Dehumidifiers can be a significant source of comfort and energy saving if you live in an incredibly humid area. High humidity leads you to feel warm or hot. This might prompt you to run air conditioning on full blast, which can be very energy-consuming.
A workaround to this problem is to use a dehumidifier. It reduces the room’s humidity at a fraction of the energy consumption of an air conditioner. Reducing the humidity lowers the temperature a couple of degrees, hence, eliminating the need to use an air conditioner or thermostat at energy-intensified settings.
13. Adjust the Thermostat
The thermostat optimally controls the temperature and can help you save energy in all seasons. Adjust your thermostat temperature in the summers between 73-78F. This temperature makes your home sufficiently cool and keeps you comfortable. For the winter season, the temperature can be maintained at a cozy 68F and could go even lower when you are asleep. Maintaining these temperatures can keep your utility bills in check.
14. Reduce the Use of HVAC Systems
Heating and cooling account for an incredible amount of energy expenditure. You can reduce your dependency on your HVAC system by incorporating energy-saving measures within your home. Insulation, sealing leaks, proper ventilation are just some of the ways you can retain heat or cold in your home for much longer, requiring you to use your HVAC appliance for a lesser duration of time.
For more tips on staying warm in winter without spending a fortune, check out this article.
15. Save Energy by Using Fans
Another way of reducing energy usage is by using ceiling fans. They consume a fraction of the energy compared to air conditioners and aid in-room ventilation and cooling. Fans have a lower maintenance cost and can be used both in the winters and summers.
For winters, reverse the fan to a clockwise direction. This will pull the cold air up and force the warm air down to help you stay warm.
16. Use an App to Track Energy Usage
By keeping track of your usage, you can determine which appliances are taking up a significant chunk of your energy bills and why. You can then cut down on these extra costs and turn off those appliances when they’re not in use. i.e., light bulbs in unoccupied rooms, air conditioners in use when there is no one at home, TVs turned on when no one is watching, and other such instances. You can track AC usage history with the help of a smart AC controller. The app provides you with a timeline of actions and usage history to monitor and manage your energy usage patterns.
17. Install Ductless Heat Pumps
There are numerous types of heat pumps available, but ductless heat pumps are gaining a lot of popularity for their energy efficiency. They are easy to install, easy to maintain, and very efficient in cooling individual rooms. Smart, IoT enabled variations to come with advanced features to provide even more energy savings.
Pro Tip:Use Cielo Comfy Mode to automate your heating or cooling with maximum comfort and energy savings.
18. Energy Efficient Appliances – BUY THEM!
We have discussed energy-efficient heat pumps in the previous section, but they are not the only appliances that have increased efficiency over the years. Household appliances like washing machines, dishwashers, dryers, and even light bulbs have increased their efficiency ratings on many folds. When put together, these appliances can make a big difference in household energy consumption, amounting to a 20% decrease in energy usage in some cases.
19. Routinely Perform Energy Audits
An energy audit helps you assess your energy usage and make the required changes to cut down your bills. Call your local electric company. A professional will check the appliances, your home structure, and the measurement of your home insulation. After the audit, the company can help you suggest changes that would help cut down your energy use. This energy-saving tip can prove to be beneficial in the long run.
20. Plug off the Chargers, when not Needed
Even when there is no device plugged-in for charging, a plugged-in charger still consumes minute amounts of energy, adding up to your bills. When your device is fully charged, unplug and turn off the switch to consume no extra energy.
Related: Why Is My Electric Bill So High? 11 Reasons &How to Lower It
Energy Saving Ideas for Your Home
21. Insulate, Insulate, and Insulate!
Sound insulation is essential in all seasons to save energy. Insulation also helps lower your bills by retaining the heat during the winter season and keeping heat out of your home during summers. The level of insulation depends on the area of your house. Crawlspace, floors, walls, attic, and basement are the main areas where good insulation can help you save some bucks. Home Energy Saver tool is handy for recommendations based on specifications of your house.
22. Leaks – SEAL THEM
The process of sealing leaks starts by identifying them. You can do it on your own or with the help of a professional energy auditor. After you find the leaks, hire a professional to seal them. This can help you trap the air that escapes through the leaks, which in turn can cause your heating or cooling systems to run on high power and waste energy.
23. Close/Open Chimneys
When you do not have a fire running in your fireplace, the outside air can enter the indoor environment and promote heat loss. Therefore, a device called a fireplace damper is installed on top of the chimney, which can seal off the fireplace when not in use. This way, the warm air from your house cannot escape out into the environment and unnecessarily lower the room’s temperature.
When not in use, the fireplace damper should be kept closed to prevent unwanted air drafts from being generated in the room.
24. Save Energy by Closing the Dampers
Dampers are used to control the flow of air from the ducts of a central air conditioning system into a room. When the air conditioner is turned off, the ducts with long metal pipes store unheated/uncooled air in them. These ducts can produce drafts that push this air into the room. This effect becomes even more noticeable during the winter months, when chilly air comes into the warm and cozy place, bringing the temperature down.
To counter this and save energy, keep the dampers of your ducts closed when not in use. This prevents drafts from coming into the room and disturbing the room temperature.
25. Weatherstrip the Attic
Attics are isolated spaces, which often do not have air conditioning installed. Even though your living space is comfortable to sit-in during winter or summer months, the attic can be at an extreme, either hot or cold.
If your attic door opens into your living space, you would want to weatherstrip it. This means that you seal any gaps in the attic door or its hinges, so there is no air leaking out. Treat your attic door as you would treat your main entrance of the room. You want to seal the main entrance and keep the outside air out. The same is the case with the attic doors.
26. Install an Attic Ventilator
In the summers, an attic ventilator can prevent your attic from becoming unbearably hot and stuffy. An attic bears the full brunt of the sun, and the space can become very hot. As a result, the attic radiates heat to the rooms directly below the attic, making them hot and requiring higher cooling energy to maintain a comfortable temperature.
On the other hand, an attic ventilator keeps the air circulating and prevents the attic from becoming too hot. Less heat is then radiated to the rooms below, requiring less cooling and thus saving energy.
27. Frost the Windows
There are two benefits of frosted windows. One being that frosted windows keep the heat out during summers and cold out during the winters. These are much better than unfrosted windows and reduce the strain from your heating or cooling system at no cost.
28. Close the Garage Doors
The temperature of the garage almost always affects the temperature of your indoor space. To save on energy usage, you should always have your main garage door closed when not in use. This will prevent chilly winter winds from making your garage very cold and keep the heat out in summer.
Less extreme temperatures in the garage mean comfortable room temperature and less need for air conditioning.
29. Use Blinds for Shade
Closing or opening the blinds at the right time can reduce energy consumption. On hot summer days, direct sunlight can heat your home, causing you to turn up the air conditioner using more energy. Close the blinds in summers to keep out the heat. During winters, heat is lost through windows during cold nights. Close down the blinds at night as they can act as an insulation layer for the windows.
30. Choice of Colors for Your Home
Having a general understanding of how the choice of paint helps you save energy is very important. Dark colors absorb natural light, while light colors reflect it. Paint your house according to your climate – if you live in a hot area, white or pastel shared are your best choice. This tip will not only help you save energy but will also give your home a brand-new look!
31. Use of Reflective Coating
Reflective coatings are a cost-efficient method to save up on energy bills. They can be applied to the exterior surfaces of your home. A reflective coating reflects the sun’s UV rays and prevents the indoor spaces from heating up. As a result, you do not have to use air conditioning as much or at a higher power setting.
32. Doors:Replace the Old, Fix the Damaged Ones
If you have wooden doors, they will most likely allow cold drafts in and warm air out during the cold season. Here you have two choices:door repair or door replacement. You can choose either of them, depending on your budget. This one-time investment will slash your utility bills in the longer run.
33. Energy Efficient Doors
Energy-efficient doors are a great option to trap the cold air in summer and warm air during winter. There are two options when it comes to door replacement:Steel doors and fiberglass doors. Steel doors are strong and resistant to warping, while fiberglass doors reduce air transfer.
34. Energy Saving Roofing Options
Roofing material is a significant factor and should be taken into consideration for an energy-efficient home. The correct choice of the material, such as Energy Star metal roofing, can make a difference in overall efficiency. Roofing materials act as insulation to trap the heat during winter and deflect/keep out the heat during summer. Initially, the selection of a roof could be expensive, but it pays back by reducing your bill in the long run.
35. Promote Air Flow
Keep the airflow in the room as high as you can. A stuffy room makes it feel hotter than it is and forces you to use air conditioning. This problem is more common in the summer months than in winter. Open your doors, windows, or vents. Moreover, you can also use ceiling fans to keep the airflow going.
36. Cover Your Windows to Save Energy
As a very affordable and accessible option, you can use window films to cover your windows. These are best for warmer climates since they block heat but also help save energy in winter by blocking out cold from the outside. You can also use thick curtains to help with maintaining the temperature of your room.
37. Install Energy Efficient Windows
Heat loss through windows in winters and heat gain during summers is a recurring issue. This leads to a waste of energy and an increase in bills. How can you minimize it? Replace your single-pane windows with double panes. Moreover, the gas-filled windows with ‘Low-E‘ reflect some sunlight to keep your house cool in summer and warm in winter.
38. Make Sure Air Vents Are Not Blocked
Ensure that your living space’s air conditioning is efficient enough by checking if there is any object that could block the air vents. Remove the blockages from the air vents to have better airflow and an efficient air conditioning system.
39. Structural Insulated Panels
These panels play a significant role in making your home energy-efficient. Structured insulated panels are designed to provide excellent insulation by sandwiching a foam sheet layer between plywood pieces. It serves as insulation and dramatically helps you save energy.
40. Get an Outlet Gasket
Outlet gaskets prevent air drafts from entering your room through the outlets. This ensures that there are no cold air inlets in your room during the winters. Outlet gaskets are very cheap and easy to install, requiring a total of just two minutes to fit. But they can go a long way in saving you utility costs.
Lighting Tips to Save Energy
41. Take Help From Mother Nature
The use of natural light is essential to save energy. The daylight minimizes the usage of artificial light, slashing your electricity bills, and especially your HVAC costs. Depending on the season, open the blinds and curtains, preferably during the day, to use natural sunlight to light up the room. They will not only help you save on electricity bills but also brighten up the atmosphere!
42. Turn off the Lights
This is a pretty straightforward way of saving on energy bills. Turn off your lights in spaces that are not in use. If you tend to forget, try to use smart lighting with motion sensors to detect your absence and automatically switch off.
43. Put Lights on a Timer
Light timers automatically turn off the lights at a specific time. This makes sure that you do not accidentally leave your lights on at night in rooms that are not in use or where lighting is not required. These timers can be used both during the day or at night, saving considerable amounts of energy.
44. Dust Your Bulbs to Increase Energy Savings
Keep your bulbs and lights clean. Accumulation of dust and dirt can make them seem less bright than they are and force you to use more light bulbs than necessary. Periodic dusting and cleaning can go a long way in reducing energy bills.
45. Get Colored Lamp Shades
Colored lamp shades give the effect of more lighting in the room and can light up your indoor space. With a brightly colored lampshade, one lamp can sufficiently light up the whole room. This can save you the cost of using an extra light bulb.
46. Install Dimmers on Lights
Most times, you do not need your lights to work on full power. Sometimes you require only minimal lighting in the room. This is where dimmers come in handy and can reduce the amount of power the light consumes, reducing brightness and energy usage.
47. Replace Incandescent Bulbs
Incandescent bulbs are the oldest type of light bulbs and take up the most amount of power. If you are looking to save energy, you will be better off by replacing all your incandescent bulbs with LED light bulbs or compact fluorescent lamps (CFL).
48. Reduce the Wattage &Compare Lumens
All your bulbs do not have to be high power. Select the wattage of your bulbs, depending on the need. Brightly lit rooms can be uncomfortable and waste a lot of energy. While lumens is the amount of light a bulb produces, wattage is the amount of energy it consumes.
49. Install Sky Lighting
An energy-efficient skylight can help minimize your heating, cooling, and lighting costs. These involve transparent spaces in the ceiling to allow sunlight to focus its warmth in a room. With plenty of directed sunlight, you do not require light bulbs or extra heating.
50. Use LED Lights for Decoration
LEDs are an efficient lighting alternative, and they significantly help save money and energy. These lights use half as much energy than typical incandescent or fluorescent bulbs. LED lights last longer, with their average life span being 30,000-50,000 hours.
51. Look Out for Vampire Energy Consumption
Vampire energy consumption is when an electric device consumes power even when it is seemingly turned off but plugged in. Vampire loads can add around $200 to the yearly energy costs of your home. Mobile phone chargers, televisions, and computer chargers consume small amounts of energy even when the device itself is turned off. Whenever you have finished using your device, unplug it from the power outlet to save energy.
52. Use Digital Systems to Control Lights
Digital systems can be installed to control lights at home. These offer the features of remote control through a connected mobile app. They help in the efficient usage of lighting with automation. This lowers the wastage of electricity to help save energy.
53. Smartly Manage Floor Lamps
Floor lamps or freestanding lights are great for ambiance. However, the more light you use, the more energy you consume of course. It is best to be practical and limit the use of any additional lighting. When in use, make sure your bulbs are LED or CFL and unplug when not in use.
54. Use Motion Sensors
It is human nature to forget things. While we know the importance of switching off the lights, sometimes we tend to forget and witness increased utility bills. A great idea is to install motion sensors or timer switches to the lights to make sure that you won’t be burning energy when the room is unoccupied.
55. Energy-Efficient Kitchen Lighting
Energy-efficient lighting includes not only energy-efficient bulbs but also the strategy used to install the lights. For your kitchen, plan the lighting scheme so that it is easy to switch off the unnecessary lights whenever needed, like onto the kitchen backsplash over the countertop. Also, create a plan for different light sources in the kitchen. Use small and overhead lights and use them accordingly, i.e., to make tea, turn on the spotlight at night, cook, and turn on the overhead light.
56. Light Fixtures – Discard the Chandeliers
Chandeliers may look very elegant in your interior decor, but they are highly inefficient light sources. They consume a large amount of electricity to power up multiple light bulbs but without proportionate illumination. It is a better idea to eliminate chandeliers and opt for other light sources that can help you save energy.
57. Use Mirrors to Enhance Natural Light
Mirrors are good light reflectors. They can make a room feel airy and spread the light around. Coupled with windows or a skylight, a mirror in the room can reflect the natural light around and reduce your dependence on light bulbs or other electrical light sources, thus, saving energy.
58. Use Energy Star Qualified CFL and LED Bulbs
Energy Star ratings are reserved for appliances that pass stringent energy efficiency criteria by the US Environmental Protection Agency. As discussed before, LED and CFL bulbs are much more energy-efficient than incandescent bulbs, and using Energy Star qualified LED and CFL bulbs reduce the consumed energy by up to 75%.
59. Use Multiple Switches
Large rooms, such as a family room or an open office space, should have multiple switches to control the lights in different areas. You may need to light up each area at all times, and with various buttons, you can control the lighting requirements as per your need.
Lifestyle and Behavioral Tips for Energy Saving
60. Rate Fluctuations
Use your home appliances during non-peak times. During peak times (usually in the evening), energy rates are generally higher, increasing your utility bills. Hence, using non-essential appliances or appliances with a high consumption rate like dishwashers, irons, washing machines, etc. should be used during non-peak times.
61. Plant Trees
You can significantly cut down on energy costs by planting shrubs and trees. These act as a shelter by blocking sunlight in the summer season and windbreaks during winters. For winters, plant trees to the north of your house to intercept and slow the cold winds. Plant trees near large windows and or hard surfaces in the summer season to minimize landscape heat load. This energy-saving tip is one of the best for an energy-efficient home and environmentally friendly home.
62. Teach Your Kids
Awareness and knowledge about energy saving practices within the newer generation go a long way in reducing household energy consumption. Good practices such as turning off lights when you leave the room/bathroom, closing the doors behind you, switching off the television are some of the things that can be instilled in children through gentle reminders.
63. Enjoy Disconnected Time &Save Energy
You do not always have to keep all your devices plugged in all the time. Keep some downtime for yourself and unplug your devices such as mobile phones, television, and other gadgets to remain off the grid. Not only does it do wonders for your health, but it also cuts down on energy usage.
64. Avoid Using Screen Savers
Set your computer to hibernate or sleep mode when not in use for an extended period, rather than going into screen saver mode. It may look pretty, but it still consumes energy to power the screen when there is no need for it.
65. Adjust Day to Day Behavior
Behavioral changes are significant in saving energy. An example of such a change is that instead of using a thin blanket during winters and keeping your heating at a higher setting, you can use a warmer blanket and turn down your thermostat.
66. Always Recycle
Making new things almost always takes up more energy than recycling them. Everyday objects like paper, tissue, cardboard, and glass are recyclable, saving precious energy and natural resources. As an example, recycling Aluminum saves 94% energy as compared to making it from Aluminum ore.
67. Furniture Arrangement
Proper placement of your furniture can significantly affect your energy consumption. Do not place high back chairs next to the windows, which can block natural light. Do not block the air conditioning vents in your room with tables or drawers, and leave plenty of space so that the heated or cooled air can efficiently circulate.
68. Use Candles – Create Ambience
Candles are a great way to kill two birds with one stone. You can reduce light bulb usage and also create a comfortable ambiance. Moreover, during winter, candles can provide warmth and a cozy feeling.
69. Choice of Clothes
Dress appropriately for the weather. In winter months, keep a thick sweater and wear comfortable yet warm trousers. Wearing socks is not a bad idea either. During summers, dress in light and airy clothes, so you feel less stuffy.
70. Maintain the Temperature
Maintaining a constant temperature means you do not have to use your HVAC at full power. Without extreme temperature variations, you can remain comfortable even with your air conditioning at moderate temperature settings.
Pro Tip: Automate your environment based on room temperature and humidity.
71. Go for Prepaid Electric Bill Plan
Prepaid electric bill plans work by assigning you a specific number of power units that you can consume throughout the month. By restricting your power usage within a particular limit, you force yourself to save on energy consumption wherever you can.
72. Minimum Opening and Closing of Doors
Minimize the time for which your doors remain open. Opened doors let the warm or cold air in your room escape through, thus disturbing the overall room temperature. Keep your doors and windows closed so that no outside air can come in.
73. Make Small Term Investments for Long Term Results
Energy-saving devices and energy star rated appliances may seem expensive to buy. Still, they can quickly recover their cost in the long run and save you many times the initial investment over their lifetime. Look at the bigger picture and not be afraid of the higher initial cost.
74. Stay Vigilant of Peak Hours
Peak hours have a higher tariff as compared to non-peak hours. Use your non-critical appliances during off-peak hours and save on energy consumption.
75. Pre-Heat Your Food
When cooking frozen food, it is better to pre-heat it and then put it in the electric oven. This way, you do not have to use your oven range for a longer time, reducing your energy consumption. Similarly, instead of microwaving food straight from the fridge, try to take it out earlier and bring it to room temperature before you warm it.
76. Air Dry the Dishes
Instead of using a dishwasher or an automatic dryer for your dishes, leave them out on the kitchen counter to air dry. Electric dryers use a large amount of electricity to dry your dishes, and air drying does the same job with no energy cost at all.
77. Use of Burners
When using your cooking range, match the use of burners with the pot size. Using a large burner for a small cooking task or a small pot will waste extra energy and increase your utility bills. It is then a good idea to keep the large burners reserved only for preparing larger meals.
78. Use Suitable Pots
Use a pot that is proportionate to the cooking task. Cooking smaller dishes in a large pot wastes the heat energy and requires longer cooking times, consuming more heat energy.
79. Car Pool
If you are going to the office and have the same route as the three other colleagues, it is better to share a ride than coming in four different cars. Less energy consumption, fewer greenhouse emissions, and you would have a good time en-route!
80. Use Alternative Electricity Generating Resources
Rather than using electricity from the grid, utilize alternative sources, such as wind and solar energy. Install a small solar grid on your roof, and power up less energy-intensive devices through it. Similarly, you can use a small windmill on your property to power the outdoor lights and such.
Tips for Your Home Appliances to Save Energy
81. Do Full Loads of Laundry
When washing your clothes, collect them all at once and clean with a full load, rather than doing it in bits and pieces. This minimizes the usage of your washing machine and dryer, saving energy in the process.
82. Air Dry the Clothes
Rather than using a dryer, hang your clothes out to dry in the sun. This process uses no extra energy and is even recommended for clothes that can get damaged when dried in a laundry dryer.
83. Wash Clothes Using Cold Water
You do not need hot water to wash your clothes. Cold water or lukewarm water, in most cases, can do the job as effectively. By using hot water for washing clothes, you are using up energy for no additional benefit. This only increases your utility bills.
84. Take Shorter Showers
Minimize the amount of time you spend in the shower. With longer showers, not only do you waste a precious natural resource in the form of water, but are also utilizing extra energy by using bathroom lighting.
85. Low-Flow Showerheads
Older showerheads expel large volumes of water without covering much surface area. As a result, you are wasting water. Newer low-flow showerheads reduce the amount of water coming out of the showerhead but distribute it effectively so that you get the same coverage.
86. Lower the Temperature of the Water Heater
Keep the temperature of your water heater at a minimum when not in use. Turn up the temperature only when you shower or during mornings when it gets a bit chilly, especially during the fall.
87. Electric vs. Gas-Powered Lawn Mower
Use an electric-powered lawn mower instead of a gas-powered one. Gasoline-powered engines are less efficient than electric motors and expel smoke and harmful gases that increase pollution. You can charge up your electric powered lawn mower using solar power or even wind from a small turbine.
88. Clean Your Fridge
Keep your fridge clean. Accumulation of dirt, grease, and other items can reduce the efficiency of the refrigerator. The interior walls and coils do not cool as effectively when dirty compared to when they are clean.
89. Wrap Food in the Refrigerator
Make sure that everything you place in the fridge is covered. All food items should be well wrapped. If not, they can release moisture in a fridge’s sealed environment, forcing the compressor to work harder to maintain a sufficiently cold environment.
90. Close the Refrigerator Door
Make sure the refrigerator door is closed correctly and the seals are airtight. If your food items become dislodged, they can prevent the door from closing properly, requiring extra energy to cool the refrigerator. It’s best to decide what you need and takes it out quickly rather than stand with the fridge door open for a long time.
91. Adjust Refrigerator Temperature
Keep your refrigerator temperature in a suitable setting, as required by the items you store. There is no use keeping the refrigerator at a minimum in the winter months, especially if your fridge items do not require such extreme minimums.
92. Fill Up Your Freezer
Filling up your freezer makes the items inside cool down faster. This is because air is an insulator, while solid food items are not as great. These food items can then become sources of cold on their own and contribute to the cooling effect.
93. Use Convection Ovens
Use convection or toaster ovens instead of full-sized ovens for small-sized meals. These ovens use almost one-third of the energy than a regular oven.
94. Install Low-Flow Water Fixtures
Use low-flow water fixtures in your kitchen and bathrooms. Newer installations spread out the water much more evenly and use minimal water, meaning you can get the job done without using many natural resources.
95. Turn Off the Appliances Before Holiday Trips
Before going for a long trip away, turn off non-essential appliances. Unplug your television, dishwasher, desktops, lamps, and similar household appliances. As discussed before, vampire energy consumption can take up several amounts of energy, contributing to your energy bill.
96. Use Appliances Strategically
Know how to make the best use of your appliances. For example, if you have the oven running in the winter months, keep the oven’s door open for a while after cooking to heat the kitchen and serve as a heat source.
97. Keep Your Appliances Well Maintained
Perform regular maintenance checks on your appliances. Even though they may not stop working, small faults can develop, which reduces an appliance’s efficiency. Inefficient appliances take up more energy and should be fixed as soon as possible.
98. Keep Home Appliances Clean
Keep your appliances clean and free from dust and dirt. Accumulation of dirt on devices can increase energy consumption. For example, grime on a refrigerator’s coils can make it work harder to maintain the same temperature. Dirt on the exhaust ports of a microwave can affect the functionality of the appliance.
99. Appliance Placement
Keep your appliances in suitable areas, as per their use. It makes no sense to have your refrigerator or freezer next to your cooking range or in front of a window through which the sun shines all day long.
100. Reduce Your Dependency on Appliances
While technology is excellent and very convenient, especially if you consider smart appliances, it’s best to limit your use and also adopt some old ways. The more dependent you are on your devices the more energy you consume. There may not always be a need to use a dishwasher, hairdryer, or microwave.
101. The Most Useful Tip
You have 100 different ways to save energy! They would be of no use, though unless you follow them! The last and final tip is to be mindful of your energy consumption and follow as many tips as possible to save energy! Even if you follow half, you are in line for significant energy savings!
These are some energy-saving tips that will help you slash your utility bills all year long. Start saving energy from today for yourself and for the environment you live in!