Reducing household energy from appliances and other things you use will not just save money. It will also help reduce the demand for non-renewable energy sources such as coal, oil and natural gas.
Here are some quick energy conservation methods from solar that we should consider:
Refrigerators: Refrigerators account for about 20% of Household electricity use. Turn it down. Anyone can use a thermometer to set its temperature as close to 3°C (37°F). To save more money, make sure that its energy saver switch is always on.
Don’t forget to clean the gaskets and coils around the refrigerator. Built-up dust in the refrigerator’s coils will impede airflow and will force the fridge to work harder and will cost more money.
Washer: Always set the clothes washer to warm or cold water setting. Using warm water instead of hot can reduce the household energy needed to heat the water and can save money.
Dishwasher: Run the dishwasher only with a full load. This will get the most cleaning power for every dollar that we spend on water and energy.
Water Heater: Turn the water heater thermostat down to 48°C (120°F). This will save as much as 3%–5% on the water heating costs.
Replace any old appliances and choose the most energy-efficient models. Look at the label and check for any energy conservation labels. This is an assurance that the replacement that we are getting will save energy and helps prevent pollution.
Make sure to replace inefficient appliances even if they are still working. These appliances could be costing more than we think. And don’t forget to RECYCLE the old appliance.
Home heating and cooling: Do not overheat or overcool any room. Also, remember to clean the air filters as recommended. Cleaning a dirty filter of an air conditioner can save up to 5 percent of the energy used.
After charging, don’t forget to pull the plug on the laptop, cellphone, and digital camera chargers. They still draw energy when they’re plugged in.
Don’t leave kitchen, bath and other ventilating fans too long. Always remember to turn them off when their job is done. These fans can blow out a house full of heated air if left on. Costing more energy than usual.
Turn down the thermostat when no one is inside the house for more than four hours. But do not turn off the heating system entirely. While this idea may not be suitable for highly insulated apartments, turning down the heat completely may cause the house to cool down so much that heating it back to a comfortable temperature when someone gets home wastes more energy and money than letting it run.
Put the lamps, TV and other electrical supplies away from the thermostat. These appliances emit heat that is sensed by the thermostat and it may cause the furnace to shut off too soon and restart frequently which is not economical at all.
Use a kettle to boil water or put a lid on the saucepan. This will make the water boil sooner and use less energy.
When using an oven or stove, turn it off 5 minutes before the cooking time is up. Let the trapped heat finish the cooking. After cooking, consider leaving the oven door open for a while. The heat can warm up the kitchen.
Use smaller kitchen appliances as much as possible. Appliances like microwave and toaster oven can use as much as 75 percent less energy compared to a large electric oven.
Always repair dripping faucets. One drop of hot water will cost money and energy.
Use LED or compact fluorescent light bulbs. LED bulbs last longer and use up to 80 percent less energy than standard bulbs.
Turn off the lights and other appliances that are not being used. Turn on lights indoor or outdoor only when needed. This is applicable not just in the house but also in other places like the office. In offices, unnecessary lighting can increase the usage of air conditioning. Make sure to unplug coffee makers, microwaves, and toaster before shutting the office down for the weekends or holidays.
Put the computer to sleep instead of using a screen saver when no one is using it. The sleep mode function uses the least amount of electrical current from the outlet. Saving a lot of money.
During winter days, choose thicker clothes and wear layers. Wearing layers will retain the heat better than a single think jumper.
Don’t spend too much time in the shower. A minute less under the shower, every day could save more energy.
If no one stays at the house frequently, always make sure to put indoor and outdoor lights on a timer. Leaving the lights on all day will cost more energy.
Reducing waste is also helpful in energy conservation. Buy minimally package goods. Also, choose the reusable products and packaging over the disposable ones. Reusable products will save more money.
Don’t forget to recycle. A pound of waste that has been recycled can save household energy and reduce carbon dioxide emission by at least 1 pound. Recycling saves energy, time and money.
Invest in Solar Panel: Solar panel converts solar energy from the sun into electricity. This will let us save money and reduce the amount of energy that we use from the grid.
These are simple and easy ways to save household energy daily. Although this is just a small step towards a much bigger goal, these little actions do not mean that the overall impact is small. Using less energy every day helps preserve natural resources for future generations.
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