In today’s technological world, where environmental sustainability and energy conservation are important, looking for ways to minimize energy consumption at home has become a top priority.
By adopting energy-efficient habits and making simple adjustments, like the following, you can save money on energy bills and contribute to a greener future:
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1. Be Savvy in Your Kitchen
Like most homeowners, you probably have a kettle at home. But most of us are guilty of boiling more water with our kettle than we intend to use. Avoiding overfilling your kettle will save you over $10 every year on electricity bills.
You may also fit an aerator on your kitchen tap so you can minimize the water amount coming out without necessarily impacting how it rinses or washes. Every year, you can save about $20 on electricity bills.
2. Install a Solar Panel
Solar panels are among the fastest-developed renewable energy sources in the market right now, and you know the reasons why. They save energy and cut energy bills.
One common question among many homeowners is, how many solar panels for your property will you need? The number of panels you will need depends on several factors, like the following:
- Panel efficiency
- Energy consumption
- Location
- Shading & obstructions
- Orientation & tilt
3. Tweak TV Settings
While today’s HD TVs use about 65% less energy than the previous generation, several internet-ready models use power in excess after turning them off, thanks to ‘quick start’ features that make them boot up a couple of seconds quicker.
If your TV has this option, go to settings and disable it. Since most people watch TV at night, this will greatly affect their energy consumption.
Also, if you like streaming movies/shows and use services such as YouTube or Netflix, invest in an internet-ready TV or add-on device, such as a Roku box, Google Chromecast, or Apple TV, that uses little power. Always avoid streaming videos through a game console, such as Xbox or PlayStation that uses up to 20 times more electrical energy.
4. Automate Usage
Smart thermostats are designed to minimize cooling and heating costs by around 17%. It works by automatically adjusting the temperatures and learning your habits.
For instance, if you turn down the temperature before going to bed at 9 p.m., your smart thermostat will automatically adjust. You may also control your thermostat from a mobile app, away or at home.
5. Maintain Your Freezer and Refrigerator
Many freezers and fridges work well when full, even if those appliances contain sodas or water bottles. But you need to ensure you don’t overfill them because that can result in poor airflow and make your appliances work more than they should.
Experts also advise defrosting freezers at least once or twice yearly. This is important as a thick layer of frozen water or ice in the freezer may increase your energy consumption by over 32%.
Minimizing energy consumption doesn’t necessarily mean sacrificing creature comforts or doing less. Thanks to more efficient and new technology, it is now easier than before to get the most out of your home, reduce utility bills, conserve electricity, and minimize environmental impacts.
