Simple Ways To Make Your Home More Energy Efficient
We all know the importance of reducing our footprint on the world. Every small change counts. The little decisions we make every day add up. The important thing is to learn the simple ways to start reducing your footprint now. As you learn about the changes that you can make, being energy efficient in your home becomes second nature. Being energy efficient doesn’t have to be difficult or complicated. There are small, simple ways to start now.
When you make your home more energy efficient, not only is it going to be better for the planet, but it’s also better for your bank account. You’ll start to notice the difference in your energy bills as you make your home more efficient.
Check out these simple ways to make your home more energy efficient now.
Invest In Smart Home Upgrades
Installing smart home automation such as hubs, lighting, thermostats, security systems, and energy meters can be a great way to control your energy use and have a better understanding of how much energy you actually use. They can also be great tools for helping you see where you can reduce your energy use by understanding your habits and seeing where you can cut back.
Use Ceiling Fans Properly
Ceiling fans are a simple way to help cool down a room without needing to put air on throughout the whole house. They’re especially handy on summer nights. They pull the cool air up, circulating it throughout the room. They also have a reverse option, which can help keep a room warmer in the wintertime by pushing the hot air down.
Do Your Laundry At Once On “Off Peak” Times
Save your laundry up for evenings and weekends. By doing your laundry during off-peak hours, you’ll help to reduce your energy bills. Plus, since your dryer will already be warm from the first load, it takes less energy to heat it back up for the second and third loads.
Air Dry Your Clothes
Or, if you want to get even more energy efficient, forget the dryer altogether and use air to dry your clothes. Clotheslines in the summer are a great way to get everything dry without needing to spend a dime. In the winter months, there are drying racks that you can get that fold up nice and small when not in use which can save you a lot of energy.
Switch To Energy Efficient Everything
From light bulbs and appliances, technology has come a long way in terms of energy efficiency. The difference in the amount of energy that a washer takes vs an energy-efficient washer is huge. Check your appliances, lightbulbs, TVs, water heaters, etc. Make a list of the ones that are NOT energy efficient and plan replacements for them into your budget. The investment will be worth it in the long run.
Clean The Vents Out Of Large Appliances
Your dryer has a large exhaust at the back that will get clogged with dust and lint. Give it a good clean-out at least once a year so that the motors don’t have to work harder than they need to. Your refrigerator also has a vent at the back that can get clogged with debris and dust, which causes it to work harder to keep your fridge cool. Remember to pull it out a couple of times a year and vacuum out the vent.
Lower Your Thermostat
Do you really need to be wearing a t-shirt at home during the winter or slippers and leggings during the summer? By adjusting your thermostat, even just by a few degrees, you can reduce your energy consumption and lower your monthly bills. Lowering your thermostat by 7-10 degrees for 8 hours a day can save you around 10% of your heating and cooling bills.
The cool thing is that your body will adapt pretty quickly. While your home might feel cold/hot for the first few days, soon enough you won’t even notice the difference! Your body will adjust itself and your home will start to feel comfortable again at the new regular temperature.
Replace Your Showerheads
By replacing your showerhead with a low-flow shower you’ll be saving yourself from using GALLONS of additional water and energy costs. If you’re cringing at the thought of a low-flow showerhead, don’t worry! Low flow does NOT mean no pressure. There are plenty of energy-efficient showerheads out there that have amazing pressure and some even have options to increase and decrease pressure.
Check Your Caulking and Weatherstripping
When the caulking and weather stripping around your windows and doors starts to crack or have holes, air seeps through, causing drafts or making your home hotter than it should be. This leads to higher energy bills as your home works to cool down or warm up your house to compensate. Make sure to check your caulking and weatherstripping annually and replace them as needed.
Plant Trees In Your Yard
Trees provide shade, which will help to keep your home cooler in the summer months. And, as a bonus, trees clean our air, so you’ll be helping Mother Nature out a lot by planting a few trees in your yard.
Close The Blinds In The Summer
As much as we love bright sunlight beaming through the windows, your home is going to get quite toasty with all of that sunshine. Then you’ll have to use more energy to cool your home down and keep it at a comfortable temperature. Keeping your blinds or curtains closed will help keep your home cooler.
Wrap Up Your Water Heater
This tip doesn’t count for tankless water heaters that heat on demand, but if you happen to have a water tank heater then you can wrap the tank in an insulating blanket to prevent heat loss, which will keep your energy costs down.
Start Turning Things Off
Start building habits to turn things off when you’re not using them. Turn lights off when you leave a room. Turn the tap off when you’re brushing your teeth. Turn the shower off when you’re shaving or waiting for the conditioner to soak in. Turn the sink off in between rinsing things. As these things become habits, you’ll be saving little bits of energy here and there which can add up over the long run.
Change Your Filters
Your HVAC unit has a filter that should be changed every couple of months. As these filters get clogged full of dust, debris, and pet hair, your system has to work harder, which uses more energy. Plus, changing your filters often will reduce the allergens in the air and help you breathe cleaner air.
Invest In An Energy Audit
Energy audits will show you how much energy your house is using as well as areas that can be improved to reduce the amount of energy you use. You could also potentially get money back through Canada’s Greener Home Grant when you do an energy audit. You can learn more about that in our article here: How Homeowners Can Get Money Back Through Canada’s Greener Homes Grant.
