Energy conservation is essential whether you live in an apartment or you’ve bought a house. You will always want to save on utility bills. Moreover, environmental concerns are growing, and it is a good step towards an eco-friendly, sustainable future. You can decide to make a simple home and behavior adjustment or execute an extensive renovation project. Start by contemplating ways to minimize your energy consumption, even if you have a big family.
Do a Comprehensive Energy Audit
To get an idea of which energy-saving changes you will do first, an energy audit gives a mental picture of how much energy you already consume and which rooms in your house use up the most energy. A home energy audit will ensure maximum efficiency in energy use all year round. Besides that, you will identify potential energy-saving opportunities. This will help you make only the changes that make the most difference. It could also potentially increase your home value. Energy-efficient homes are in high demand in the market. For safety reasons, you should leave the job to a professional.
Regular Maintenance Checks
HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning) systems require inspections at least once every year to ensure energy-efficient operation. You should check your furnace twice a year for regular maintenance checks. Sticking to a maintenance check schedule can help you save money and avoid costly repairs as you can then plan to save for a furnace replacement if you need one.
If your HVAC equipment is dirty, this could be a reason for high electric bills and system failure. Other house repairs involve looking for flickering bulbs, faulty circuits, circuit boxes, and loose wiring. Making repairs optimizes your power output and saves you money.
Go Solar
Reduce your dependence on the power grid. Having a solar panel installed can supply an alternative source of electricity. You can heat your shower, cook, and light the house solely using electricity from a solar panel at home. If installed correctly, a solar panel won’t affect the electricity supply system from the grid. You can also power your outdoor lighting with a solar battery. Furthermore, it is an opportunity to reduce your carbon footprint, which is good for the planet. This is an investment that could save you a considerable amount of money every year. It will also work well for you in case you plan to resell the house in the future.
Insulate your Home
This reduces the burden on your heating system by making sure you are not losing heat when it’s cold. Heat loss can be a result of leaking doors or windows. Air leaks are common in walls, attic, and water pipes. However, this requires a professional to do a walk-through inspection in every room for damage that can cause heat loss. This also involves keeping unwanted air from coming in. The goal is to reduce the need to keep adjusting the thermostat to compensate for the heat loss in these rooms. If you can’t make any changes to your apartment, seal up all door and window cracks using caulk or weather stripping. You can improvise by using a rolled-up towel as weather stripping.
Unplug Your Electronics
Electronics and gadgets like computers, laptops, game consoles, and kitchen appliances still consume power when they’re in standby mode. A power strip device, also known as an extension cord, is used to save energy by allowing many devices to use one socket. A power strip is subdivided into several sockets. You can turn off all your devices at once when you are sleeping or stepping out. That way, you don’t have to unplug each one. There is also the smart power strip that automatically shuts off power to a standby device.
In conclusion, it is possible to cut down the monthly expenses of your home’s energy bill by taking the above simple steps. If possible, invest in professional services that will help you save more money in the long run. You can also involve everyone in the family by asking them to switch off their plugged devices when not in use.
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