Our world is running into an energy crisis unlike we have ever seen before. One of the most effective ways to reduce this crisis is to conserve energy in your personal life. There are a lot of things that you can do to reduce your energy usage in your home.
Here is a look at three simple and practical ways that you can reduce energy usage in your home.
Old Appliances
Old appliances are one of the biggest energy guzzlers in your home. If your fridge is more than 15 years old, it could be using twice as much energy as a new model. Your clothes dryer, washing machine, and dishwasher also use a lot of energy, and replacing them with Energy Star certified models can save you hundreds of dollars each year on your utility bills.
Even if you can’t afford to replace all your appliances at once, one easy way to reduce your energy usage is to unplug them when you’re not using them. Standby power – the electricity that appliances use even when they’re turned off – can account for up to 10% of your home’s energy usage. So, by unplugging appliances when you’re not using them, you can make a big dent in your energy consumption.
Your Heating System
When it’s time to replace an old heating system, many homeowners face a choice between radiant heat and forced air. Radiant heat uses less energy compared to forced air. Radiant heat works by circulating hot water through a system of pipes in the floor or walls of a home. The warmth is then radiated out into the room, providing uniform heat that is comfortable and efficient. In contrast, forced air systems rely on a furnace to generate hot air, which is then circulated through the house using a series of ducts.
Ductwork can often be leaky, allowing warm air to escape and making the system less efficient. In addition, forced air systems can create drafts and uneven temperatures in a room. For these reasons, radiant heat is often the best choice for reducing energy usage in your home.
Lightbulbs
One of the easiest ways to reduce your energy usage at home is to replace your lightbulbs with more efficient options. Traditional incandescent bulbs are very inefficient, converting less than 5% of the energy they use into visible light. Compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) are a much better option, as they use about 75% less energy than incandescents and last up to 10 times longer.
CFLs do contain small amounts of mercury, so it is important to dispose of them properly when they do eventually burn out. However, the reduced energy usage more than offsets the small environmental impact of disposing of CFLs.
Another option is to switch to LED bulbs, which are even more efficient than CFLs and can last up to 25 times longer. LED bulbs do cost more upfront, but they will save you money in the long run. So if you’re looking for ways to reduce your energy usage, replacing your lightbulbs is a great place to start.
Your home can be a major energy user if you aren’t keeping it up to date with efficient tech. Some things in your home have to be replaced to see the energy-saving benefits. Replace these three fixtures in your home to make a massive difference in your energy usage.
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