Source: Photo by Billion Photos via Shutterstock
Starting with not energy efficient homes, we face that everything we do has some repercussions on our environment. From the emission of CO2 to the usage of fossil fuels, we are having an impact on the environment, leading to the current climate crisis. Whether you believe it or not, the truth is we’re facing it, and there are many things we can do to reduce our impact and our energy costs in a short term. Follow our 5-step guide to check out some minor adjustments that will greatly benefit you.
To start, you need to understand what energy efficiency means. If you already know, you can skip this part!
Energy efficiency definition:
Energy efficiency is, as you may have imagined using your energy efficiently. This is done when a product, appliance, device, or even home consumes less electricity than average to have a certain performance. Having energy-efficient somethings can help you greatly reduce your carbon footprint while also having a positive impact on your pocketbook, and energy efficient homes are nothing but that, homes that use less electricity to perform the same things. So what’s the problem with energy efficiency? That it is still a choice.
In case it’s not that clear yet, we invite you to take a look at this short video from Energy Fuse. You will definitely get a better understanding of it:
What are energy efficient homes?
Per intuition, you’ll find that energy efficient homes are those whose design and technology allow them to perform better with less energy. Examples of energy efficient homes can be found everywhere, from ENERGY STAR ® Certified houses to whole buildings or a commercial complex. The good news is: you don’t have to buy a new place to have energy efficient homes. What you can do instead is to perform some adjustments to improve the overall capacity and performance of your home.
So now that you have an overall look, let’s move to the core of this article:
How to improve your home’s efficiency?
Energy efficient light bulbs
LED stands for light-emitting diode, it is nowadays one of the most efficient forms of lighting. When energy efficient homes are built, LED lighting is a must. The benefits of led lighting are many, they vary from having up to 90% less energy consumption, can last up to 15x longer, and save you a lot of energy on and long term short term. We know this is not a frequent purchase, however, if you happen to be in the need of buying them, this guide from ENERGY STAR ® can be of great help.
LED light bulbs can be used everywhere, from lighting up streets to your bedroom. They’re so flexible that are even available as LED light strips to make your place look trendier. People can also add up to their energy efficient homes the usage of natural light. By enhancing it you’ll lower the use of electricity and have great savings.
Check out for energy vampires
Energy vampires do exist, they are not extrasensory beings from another world, but they are quite real, and we are the primary perpetrators. So, what are energy vampires and how do they work? These are the unintentionally formed poor habits that cause us to waste electricity and raise our bills.
We can save a significant amount of money on our electricity bill if we can detect and eliminate vampires, as an unmanaged vampire can cause electricity consumption to drain your energy far faster than predicted. Wasted energy is known as standby or phantom energy loss, and although their add up its fair on your electric bill, it can lead to major losses in the long term. What can you do once you find them?
Take a look at the label
Another easy road to energy efficient homes is, when purchasing a new appliance, to read the label and choose the model with the lowest energy consumption at rest. Above all, ENERGY STAR® models have this function since they use less electricity in both operation and standby.
Unplug them
Source: Photo by Clint Patterson on Unsplash
It’s easy to fall into the habit of leaving equipment plugged in all the time, but this is a bad habit to get into. If we wish to leave them connected for convenience or other reasons, we should have a smart switch or strip installed so that they turn off when we are not using them.
This is not only to be more efficient but also to keep you safe. Check out our electrical safety tips to be at peace knowing you reduce the risks to a possible fire.
Properly insulate your home
In new construction, a home must be constructed to maintain a consistent temperature throughout the year. The home you purchase today will last 75 years or even more. It will be easier to sell and maintain properties if they’re energy efficient homes. To obtain better energy savings, it is critical to invest in strong insulation and build windows with the best orientation.
If your home is already built, purchasing energy efficient windows is a must, also making sure your home is sealed and that all cracks and holes are covered. This will help your furnace or HAVC system to work 10x better and to be more efficient. It will be great as well to keep the temperature of it at a comfortable temperature all year long without having to break the bank.
Do you have more ideas about energy efficient homes? Have you done some improvements lately your place for it? Feel free to share them with us in the comment section. At Click2Power, we want to show you that electricity is a potent source that deserves our attention and respect—it goes from powering your gadgets to lighting your home. And now you can make a choice!
We also have a full article with summer energy savings in case you want to check it out. If you have any doubts, you can contact us. We will be delighted to answer all your questions. You can also follow us on our social media to keep posted of our latest tips to save energy and money!
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