How to Save Energy In Your Home

There are many methods to save energy both for the environment but for your pockets as well, and in this article we enlist how you can do it:

Turn down the thermostat. Turning your thermostat down by just 1 degree can reduce your energy consumption by over 5%. You won’t even notice the difference in room temperature. On the same note, don’t heat rooms when you are not using them

Decrease the hot water temperature. Your hot water thermostat needn’t be higher than 60 degrees centigrade (140 degrees Fahrenheit). Any higher and you will only be mixing it with cold water to cool it back down for use.

Give your boiler regular checkups, especially if you have had it for a few years.

Wash economically. Only use the washing machine when you have collected a full load. If you must wash a partial load, use the economy or half load setting. Also, modern washers work just as effectively at 40 degrees Centigrade (100 F) as they do at 60 (140 F), but the reduced temperature will make a difference in terms of energy used.

Tumble dryers use up a huge amount of energy. If possible, hang your clothes on a line instead. This is better for your clothes as well.

Washing economically doesn’t just apply to your clothes. Taking a shower instead of a bath uses around 50 percent less energy.

Reuse water coming out of the tap that would drain otherwise. When you turn on the tap to wait for hot water, for example, put a container under the tap until the water is warm enough and then use the water in the container to water plants or use for other purposes.

Prevent drafts. In an average house, up to 50 percent of heat is lost through drafts. To test an area, simply hold the palm of your hand up against a door or window. If you feel cold air coming through, warm air is escaping. This is simple to fix and can save you hundreds on your yearly heating bill.

Fit draft excluders around all exterior doors and interior if needed.

Fill in any cracks or crevices on window frames, skirting boards or floors with a filler or sealant.

Turn off appliances and lighting. Turn off any appliances you are not using, especially by switching off lights when you leave the room. Don’t leave fridge or freezer doors open for longer than necessary, and don’t forget that your freezer needs to be defrosted regularly for it to run efficiently.

Turn off your computer. Leaving the screen saver on will not save any energy. Screen savers can use more energy than when you are using the computer yourself and can reduce the life of your monitor. Instead, enable the display blanking feature to automatically turn off the monitor when your computer is idle. You can save $50-$100 per year by enabling your computer to ‘sleep’ automatically when you are not using.

Insulate. Up to a third of your home heating escapes through the roof. Prevent this by insulating. Not only is it simple to do, but it’s also the most cost efficient energy saving measure you can make. If you don’t already have it, invest in cavity-wall insulation. This will prevent another third of your heat escaping.

 

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