Living in a modern home is a luxurious experience. Many of us have everything we want and need to live well. But, of course, all of that comes with significant energy usage. A lot of homes get through massive amounts of power, making them less green than their owners would like.
Fortunately, thanks to modern technology, you often can have your cake and eat it too. That means that if you want to enjoy modern life but also be greener while living at home, you can.
But what do you need to do? That’s the topic of this post. We look at some of the incredible modern ways you can reduce home energy consumption and enjoy your current lifestyle without guilt.
Adjust Your Heating And Cooling
The first place you’ll want to start is with climate control. Heating and cooling systems take up an enormous amount of home energy use, so huge gains can be paid in dividends from efficiencies.
Adjust the settings on your thermostat and keep it at or below 68° F during winter and at or above 78° F during summer if you can.
Use a programmable or smart thermostat, too. These will let you automatically set energy-saving temperatures when you’re away or asleep. Seal leaks with weatherstripping or caulk around windows, doors, and vents; insulate the attic, walls, and floors to help keep your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
Remember, ceiling fans make rooms feel cooler with minimal expense compared to the higher cost of air conditioning; set them to rotate clockwise in winter to help distribute warm air and counterclockwise in summer to help cool your home. Regularly cleaning HVAC filters and servicing your heating and cooling systems keeps them running efficiently and without energy waste – all pretty basic stuff.
Improve Your Lighting
Another thing you’ll want to consider is your lighting. Changing to energy-efficient bulbs is one of the most easy and inexpensive changes you could make. LED bulbs consume up to 80% less energy as compared to normal incandescent bulbs, while the span of their working time is incomparably higher, which makes them one of the smartest investments in your home.
Base your daytime activities on sunlight and keep the general tendency going to switch off the lights in an unused room. This way, you can cut energy usage and arrange your lighting around your circadian rhythm. Other ways to reduce this further could be by putting motion sensors or timers in places such as basements, garages, or outside. Essentially, it is up to you what you do and the arrangements you want to make.
Replace Your Windows
You could also try energy-saving home window replacement. These days, the options available are far more extensive and cost-effective than in the past, giving you more control over your interior climate with less energy usage.
Companies are getting better at making high-quality windows for several reasons. The first is simply improvements in manufacturing processes. Old double-glazing wasn’t properly sealed, so condensation often got into the air gap, making them less effective and practical (sometimes, you couldn’t see outside!) Now, though, the seals are fairly robust, with budget units usually maintaining a moisture-free interior environment for at least 5 years and usually longer.
The other innovation is the use of inert gases in the gap between window panes. Argon and krypton are better able to insulate your rooms and prevent high levels of conductive or radiative heat loss from your rooms. These gases act a bit like blankets but without the bulk.
Consider Your Water Usage
Another thing you could do is to consider your water usage. Reducing hot water consumption reduces energy usage and spending on bills, helping your home reduce its overall impact.
One thing that really works is installing low-flow showerheads and faucets. These slash energy usage tremendously, cutting down on consumption without compromising on pressure.
Another thing you’ll want to try is inviting a plumber over to check the house and look for leaks. Often, professionals can identify problems that you can’t, allowing you to stop wasting water.
The most common problem is broken pipes under foundation slabs. When the ground moves, it can cause these to crack and leak water outside of your property, usually the other side of your water meter, which is why you can’t always detect these issues immediately.
Add Renewable Energy Solutions
You also want to add renewable energy solutions to your home to cut energy usage further. These smart options, like solar panels, can cut your reliance on planet-harming fossil fuels and provide you with a safer approach instead.
Solar panels are usually the easiest energy-generating technology to add to your home. Equipment is widely installed in most towns and cities, with professionals nearby for any essential maintenance. They also last a long time and don’t require much maintenance, if any, before they come to the end of their lifespans.
You can also use windmills if you have enough land, but these tend to be less practical. Mostly, homesteaders and farm owners go for this option.
Install Better Appliances
You could also install better appliances in your home. Adding new dishwashers, boilers and washing machines that require less energy is one of the best ways to keep your home using less energy.
Look for the energy rating on the side of appliances to see how many savings you can make by using them. The higher the number of stars, the more efficiently the appliances will work.
You can also invest in technologies, like smart plugs. These automatically shut off when appliances aren’t in use, preventing them from draining energy from the wall in standby mode, something that’s really annoying and pointless.
Wrapping Up
As you can see, there are numerous ways to reduce energy consumption in your home and go green. Many of these technologies are simple to implement but have a profound impact on your household bills.
Don’t be afraid to invest a little money upfront. Often, small payments today can lead to tremendous reductions in energy bills in the future.
