As energy prices touch new heights, it has become extremely necessary for homeowners to find new and sustainable ways to save energy without sacrificing comfort. By using energy-efficient appliances and reducing energy consumption, it is possible to save money on electric bills.
If you are looking for ways to save money and improve your energy efficiency, you will have to make certain changes in your lifestyle. In this article, we are going to give you some of the most effective home maintenance tips that you can use to reduce your energy costs while enjoying a certain level of comfort so bear with us till the end.
Here is what you need to do to make your house more energy efficient so that it generates lower energy costs
Use Thermostat Wisely
Some people tend to over-adjust their thermostats thinking that it will quickly cool down or heat up their house. HVAC systems work by removing humidity from your house and that process takes time. Adjusting your thermostat too high or low only puts more pressure on your system which leads to more energy consumption.
Make sure to keep the temperature difference between the indoors and outdoors as small as possible since it leads to minimum energy consumption which reduces costs.
Monitor Shower Lengths
Another mistake that people often make is that they take excessively long showers. This leads to more water as well as light energy consumption which can lead to much higher electrical bills.
You can reduce this cost by setting a timer for each shower. You can also use low-flow shower heads to further reduce water consumption.
Low-flow showerheads use about 2 gallons of water while normal showerheads release 2.5 at the same time. This shows how effective the former showerheads are in saving water.
If you are struggling to find shower lengths, you can hire a home maintenance service in Dubai to take care of it for you.
Use Smart Power Strips
Smart power strips shut off the power to appliances when they are not in use i.e., in the standby position. According to DOE (Department of Energy) US, about five to ten percent of residential energy costs are due to Phantom Energy or standby energy. This energy waste can significantly increase your energy costs and that is why you need to install power strips around such devices.
Use Energy Efficient Appliances
Only purchase appliances that have low annual operating costs. Such devices usually have much higher purchase prices but they save you a lot in the long run.
Always prefer products that have an Energy Star Label which shows that the device uses less energy while in ON and standby positions. You can also consult a home maintenance company in Dubai to learn more about ideal energy-efficient appliances for your home.
According to research, energy-starred clothes washers and refrigerators use about 20% and 9% less energy than normal appliances. Energy Star-certified dishwashers save about 3800 gallons of water over their lifetime. This shows how energy-efficient such products are.
Weatherize Your Property
If your house has many leaking points and unsealed spots, it can increase your heating and cooling expenses to a great extent. Air can enter or leave your house through windows, doors, vents, etc.
Weatherizing is a process wherein you seal all the leakage points in your house so that no air enters or leaves your house unless you allow it yourself. You can use weather stripping and caulking to seal air leaks. This way your HVAC system doesn’t have to work harder to maintain a steady temperature inside your property which reduces energy costs.
Install a Clothesline
Dryers can account for more than 6% of the total energy costs of your house. By reducing the use of dryers, you can further cut down power costs. You can install a clothesline outside your house if you have some space.
This way you can utilize natural heat and air to dry your wet clothes. During the winter you can hang your clothes inside your house for air drying to reduce costs.
Add Motions Sensors for Exterior Lights
Sometimes you forget to turn off your porch light when it gets bright and sunny outside. This also happens when you are in a hurry for your job or some other important chore and you forget to check all the lights inside your house before going out. Thus, your lights stay ON for no reason which increases your electricity costs.
To fight this, you can install motion sensor lighting in your house. Also, it is advised that you use high-efficiency compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) or LEDs instead of incandescent bulbs to further cut down energy consumption.
Final Thoughts
So, these are some of the most simple and effective ways you can make your house more energy efficient. Using technologies that consume less power and keeping track of all the appliances that consume more energy, you can easily reduce electricity costs.
Upgrade your old and outdated electronic appliances with new ones, turn Off the power when you are not using a certain item, and utilize ceiling fans as well as more natural light and you will soon notice that your energy bills start to get low.
