Five Easy Steps to Save Energy at Homesubmitted on 13 October 2014
Saving energy throughout your home is an easier task than 10 years ago, thanks to the advancements in modern technology. With so many cost effective solutions to cut down on your energy bill, you would be crazy to not try these 5 simple energy saving tips below immediately. Doing so could cut your monthly utility bill in half! It is also well worth taking a look on nPower. This energy saving resource page provides advice, information on energy saving schemes, and introduces some excellent energy efficient products.
Check the EU Energy Efficiency Rating
Over the years appliances have become more energy efficient. Since July 2012 new fridges, freezers and fridge freezers have to be A+ energy rated. With other appliances the model you get can make a big difference to your energy consumption, and therefore monthly bills. At first energy efficient appliances saved you maybe 10-30% of what a normal appliance’s energy consumption would be each month. However, nowadays that number has shot to an astounding 40-65% energy savings (or even more).
While the most efficient appliances do cost a bit more than standard appliances, the money you save each year with your utility bills being lower will pay off the difference within a few years of the purchase. You are cutting down your monthly expenses while helping the environment. It's a win-win. Familiarise yourself with the energy label standards and be mindful of what you are buying.
Phantom Usage!
Phantom usage is when appliances are plugged in, but do not need to be. According to research carried out by the US Department of Energy 75% of the electricity used to power home electronics, happens when these devices are turned off (but still plugged in).
Cutting down on your electricity usage does not only mean buying more energy efficient products, but also being mindful of the products you already do have at home. Leaving your computer plugged in for hours on end. Keeping your Xbox 360 plugged in when you play it only once a week. While these may seem like tiny devices, these things can use quite a bit of electricity each month, even when turned off.
Getting into the habit of turning off your plug sockets when your electrical devices are not in use can eliminate much of this wastage. If you are honest with yourself and you feel this is a habit you will not form then you could buy automatic standby shutdown extensions. These recognise when your devices are in standby and cut the electricity to them automatically. It is worth keeping an eye on Groupon for these, as you can get some pretty good cost savings.
Change your light blubs
Maybe the single biggest thing you can do to cut down on your rising electric bill, swap out your old light bulbs! The changes are relatively inexpensive (when compared to buying brand new energy star appliances) and these new light bulbs pay for themselves in about 6 months.
CFL (compact fluorescent light bulbs) uses about 75% less energy than a regular light bulb, and save you an extra £20 per light fixture over the lifetime of the bulb. These bulbs not only produce the same amount of light, while using less energy; they also last 10x longer than normal fluorescent bulbs do!
These bulbs can be had for under £2 a bulb (when buying in packs of 4 or 6) and can instantly have an impact on your houses electric bill, without having to break the bank to make a major purchase like a new energy efficient oven.
Use Fans for Cooling
Research has shown that every degree you raise your thermostat can reduce your cooling costs by 7% to 10%. This is a huge amount and a great way to keep your AC off during the warmer months is by purchasing a couple quality fans for your home.
While a ceiling fan would be ideal, other rotating tower fans will do the trick as well. Running a fan all day is definitely cheaper than keeping the AC blasting for the same time frame, so investing in a few fans for your home is definitely worth it in the long run. Just remember to unplug them when not in use!
Installing Storm Windows
If building a new house, it would be wise to fork over the extra cash (about £4000) and have brand new storm windows installed for your home. This helps reducing temperature loss by sealing off leaks and creating a dead airspace between windows. While this energy saving tip is expensive, you will begin to get a return on your investment within 10 years of making the purchase.
Take action today to implement these cost effective tips into your home. While this is a good place to start, broaden your scope a bit when looking for energy efficient home improvements. Every penny saved not only helps put more money back in your pocket, but helps the future generations to come as well!
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