If you feel as if you’re regularly spending more than you should on your home's energy bills, it might be time to make some changes around the house. There are many things each of us can do to conserve energy, and doing so is not only good for the planet but good for our bank accounts, too. No matter your reasons for wanting to save energy around your home, here are a few ways to do it.
How To Use Less Energy In Your Home And Save Big
Avoid The Oven
Whether your oven is electric, natural gas or even propane, using your oven is one of the most energy-intensive ways to cook. According to energysage.com, the average electric oven "uses 2,000 to 5,000 watts of electricity on average. Using a stove and oven for a combined 7 hours per week will use about 1,022 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per year". Try finding alternate ways of cooking that don't rely on your stove or oven, even if it's just a few times a week. For example an air fryer or an induction oven, which is one of the most energy-efficient ways of cooking. Making salads, especially in the warmer months, is great for your health and doesn’t use any energy to cook at all.
Whether your oven is electric, natural gas or even propane, using your oven is one of the most energy-intensive ways to cook. According to energysage.com, the average electric oven "uses 2,000 to 5,000 watts of electricity on average. Using a stove and oven for a combined 7 hours per week will use about 1,022 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per year". Try finding alternate ways of cooking that don't rely on your stove or oven, even if it's just a few times a week. For example an air fryer or an induction oven, which is one of the most energy-efficient ways of cooking. Making salads, especially in the warmer months, is great for your health and doesn’t use any energy to cook at all.
  Oster Digital Toaster Oven / Convection Oven, amazon.com |
  Ninja 4 Quart Capacity Air Fryer, amazon.com |
Wash Clothes On Cold
It may seem counter intuitive, but washing clothes in cold water is one of the best ways to reduce your energy usage around the house. Believe it or not, roughly 75% - 90% of the energy used to run a washing machine just goes towards heating the water! There are many brands of laundry detergent on the market now made specifically for cold-water washing, which are formulated to kill germs, fight stains and slow color fading. With that said, anything that is terribly soiled (like work clothes) or is a heavier load (like bedding) should still be washed on hot.
Manage Your Thermostat Better
Having better control over your home’s thermostat is one of the most important things you can do if you want to save energy. In the winter, setting your thermostat to 68 during the day and lowering it to a comfortable temperature for evenings and while you're away from home (64-66 degrees, for example). We've mentioned it many times here on the blog, but switching out your thermostat for a smart thermostat can save you money AND energy. Smart thermostats are programmable, so you can set it and forget it, and many are wifi-enabled, which allow you to control your home's temperature remotely.
  GE Programmable Thermostat (Works With Alexa & Google Home), amazon.com |
  Honeywell Home Smart Color Programmable Thermostat, amazon.com |
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Fix Failing Appliances
If you have old appliances and systems in your home, their energy-inefficiency is no doubt costing you money, and wasting energy. If you have an older boiler that's in need of repair, consider upgrading to an Energy Star certified model. According to energystar.gov, an "Energy Star certified gas boiler can save more than $770 over the lifetime of the product, while an ENERGY STAR certified oil boiler can save more than $425 over its lifetime."
If you have a boiler with a lingering problem that’s causing it to be inefficient but purchasing a new boiler is out of your budget, consider having the boiler repaired. The repairs could cost less than the amount of money you’re wasting by having it perform inefficiently day after day.
Turn Out The Lights
Finally, you should try to get into the habit of turning off the lights in your home and making sure that unoccupied rooms aren't lit unnecessarily. To make things simple, you can purchase affordable smart outlets that allow you to control whatever's plugged into them (like lamps and light fixtures). In winter, when it gets darker earlier, I have one lamp in my front room that's timed to go on by the time I get home, and turns off 20 minutes later. If I know I'm going to be late, I can simply use the smart outlet's app to adjust my schedule.
If you have old appliances and systems in your home, their energy-inefficiency is no doubt costing you money, and wasting energy. If you have an older boiler that's in need of repair, consider upgrading to an Energy Star certified model. According to energystar.gov, an "Energy Star certified gas boiler can save more than $770 over the lifetime of the product, while an ENERGY STAR certified oil boiler can save more than $425 over its lifetime."
If you have a boiler with a lingering problem that’s causing it to be inefficient but purchasing a new boiler is out of your budget, consider having the boiler repaired. The repairs could cost less than the amount of money you’re wasting by having it perform inefficiently day after day.
Turn Out The Lights
Finally, you should try to get into the habit of turning off the lights in your home and making sure that unoccupied rooms aren't lit unnecessarily. To make things simple, you can purchase affordable smart outlets that allow you to control whatever's plugged into them (like lamps and light fixtures). In winter, when it gets darker earlier, I have one lamp in my front room that's timed to go on by the time I get home, and turns off 20 minutes later. If I know I'm going to be late, I can simply use the smart outlet's app to adjust my schedule.
  4 Pack Indoor Smart Plugs (Works With Alexa & Google Home), amazon.com |
  Outdoor Smart Plug With 2 Outlets, amazon.com |
Using less energy in your home is imperative, especially when it comes to reducing our carbon footprint. Moreover, with the cost of living rising and consideration for our planet improving, using less energy in our homes is something that we should all be striving for.
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