How to Save Energy in Your Home

Lightbulbs

Energy conservation is something not a lot of us prioritize, when in fact, it’s one of the best things you can do not only for the environment, but for your wallet, too. However, it’s not as simple as simply turning off the lights when not in use or buying energy-efficient appliances. Anything you do at home requires water or fossil fuels one way or another, so you have to be intentional about the steps you take to conserve energy.

We previously offered advice on how to keep your home tidy in our ‘4 Organizing Hacks to Keep Your Home Clean’ post. This time around, we’re dispensing tips on how you can save energy at home.

Understand your home’s energy use

First and foremost, it’s best if you understand your home’s energy usage so you can better tackle problem areas later on. Performing an in-home energy assessment allows you to pinpoint the features of your home that are the main culprits of high-energy bills. Once you’ve figured them out, you can begin crafting a plan as to how to improve them to save energy in the long run.

Unplug electronics when not in use

This may seem like a no-brainer, but unplugging appliances and electronics when not in use is actually something that most people forget to do. Many of your appliances still consume energy even when not in use, and while it’s very minimal, it can still cost a lot in the long run. The last thing you want is to incur Phantom Loads, which The Spruce defines as electricity consumed by devices when turned off or on standby mode. A good tip would be using power strips for appliances that are often used together, such as your blender, rice cooker, and microwave. That way, you only have to turn a single strip on and off for the connected appliances. It’s even better when you have smart power strips, as those automatically cut the power off when they detect that the plugged-in device or appliance is on standby.

Install energy-efficient light bulbs

Considering how you have multiple lights at home for illumination, it won’t come as a surprise to know that they take up a considerable chunk of your electricity bill. It’s even worse if you have traditional incandescent light bulbs, as those tend to consume an excessive amount of electricity. If you want to save both electricity and money, a HomeServe Living article on saving energy in the home highlights how it’s better to replace them with LED bulbs. Not only do they use 20% to 80% less electricity, but they last significantly longer, too.

Stick to rechargeable batteries exclusively

It may seem counterintuitive at first, but recharging a battery is an excellent way to conserve energy as opposed to purchasing new ones over and over. If you think about it, it requires a lot more energy to produce a new battery than it does to recharge one that’s already made. If your current batteries happen to run out of juice, make it a point to replace them with rechargeable ones. Writer Walter Brant also notes that rechargeable batteries are also better for the environment because they don’t go to the landfill after each use. When you stick to rechargeable batteries, not only are you saving energy, but you’re also contributing to saving the environment too.

Delete unwanted files from cloud storage

Did you know that by continuing to keep files you no longer need, you’re indirectly harming the environment? Unicef points out that this is because cloud data centers housing your data and media consume massive amounts of energy as they require air conditioning unit systems to avoid overheating. If more people tried eliminating unnecessary data from cloud storage, companies offering the services would cut down on warehouses filled with servers. It will then reduce the environmental threat posed by data centers.

As the above tips show, it doesn’t take much to save energy in your home. But even the smallest changes are worth doing to reverse climate change.

Trending Topics