8 Simple Energy Conservation Techniques Homeowners Should Consider

By Helga Stokes


The cost of electricity is continuously rising. This means homes are now spending more on power bills than ever before. However, you can adopt simple rules that can help use save on areas where power wastage occurs in most buildings. Below are some simple Energy Conservation Techniques you can use and reduce the cost of electrical power in your home.

Use energy efficient equipment. If you are buying a new appliance, ensure that it has the mark of the Environmental Protection Agency. This should guarantee you that the machine is designed to use the lowest power possible. Such equipment use between 10% and 50% percent less electricity and water than their conservative counterparts. However, you should be ready to pay a little more for the purchase.

Upgrade the insulation system in your home. The power most homes used for heating and cooling amounts to more than 50% of the electricity bills. Therefore, by ensuring the walls, attic, floors, ceilings are insulated properly, you will lower your expenses considerably. When there is minimum flow of air between the inside and outside environments, you will find the temperatures easier to control.

Make windows more efficient. You can increase efficiency by installing new storm windows. This will reduce the loss of temperature by developing a dead airspace between windowpanes and sealing leaks. Although the installation will cost you more money, you will save a lot in the end because you will use less power for heating.

Ensure your appliances are used efficiently. Most home equipment come with recommendations from the manufactures. Following these instructions can help you reduce their power consumption. For example, just ensuring that your fridge is running at the stated temperatures can make a big difference. Even a simple thing such as washing the dishes with the sink-hole sealed can reduce the amount of electricity used for heating the water.

Do away with air leaks. When air flows from the inside to the outside, especially during the cold season, you will have to heat the house more to keep yourself warm. However, if there is no such flow, warm air will always stay inside, which will reduce your heating costs. An energy auditor can always help you identify areas that require improvements.

Consider having a programmable thermostat. If your AC system is not put into check, you will end up paying unnecessary bills. A thermostat will allow you to determine when the house gets heated. It is unnecessary to have it running on full power when during the night or when you are outdoors.

Unplug devices that are not in use. Every home is full of little power supplies for charging PDA's, cell phones, cordless tools, digital cameras, and other personal gadgets. When you are not charging these devices, ensure that they are unplugged from the sockets. This will help reduce the phantom load in your house.

Put lights out when they are not in use. Leaving the lights on leads to loss of unnecessary energy. You can also replace old bulbs with fluorescent lights, which are considerably efficient.

There are many energy conservation techniques that homes can adopt. The above mentions tips are just some examples. Start practicing these strategies today and you will be amazed when you find out how much money you will have saved at the end of the year.




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