Awareness about energy saving in the home is becoming more and more important. Indeed, careless use of electricity contributes to global warming and leads to astronomical bills. By choosing your appliances well, taking care of your consumption habits and with a pinch of creativity, you can save money and protect the environment.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Interior and Exterior Lights
Step 1. Let natural light in, especially if you tend to close curtains and blinds and turn on lights, unless you need strong, localized light for a certain task
- During the day, make sure you focus your work and relaxation space in the brightest room in the house. Thus, everyone will be able to read and work on art projects without artificial light.
- Use soft colored curtains, which will spread the light in the rooms. There are fabrics that let the light in well while ensuring privacy.
Step 2. Suggest that your family get together in a room or two in the evening instead of turning on multiple lights
In addition to saving, you will have the bonus of spending quality time together.
Step 3. Use candles instead of electric lights a few times a week
You don't have to wait for summer storms to blow the power out to turn them on. Do this once or twice a week, preferably when there is no need for tasks that require artificial light. You will see, it will be fun for your children too.
- Encourage your family members to do activities that don't require electricity, such as reading or telling terror stories.
- Make sure your children know how to handle them and place them in safe places.
Step 4. Review your outdoor lighting system
Leaving the lights on on the balcony or in the garden can consume a lot of electricity. Avoid it unless absolutely necessary.
- If you leave them on for safety reasons, consider purchasing self-switching lights, which have motion sensors.
- Decorative garden or driveway lights can be replaced with solar powered lights, which charge during the day and give off a soft glow at night.
- If you use decorative lights at parties, turn them off before going to bed.
Step 5. Use compact fluorescent (CFL) or LED bulbs, which release most of their energy in a more balanced way
The newer ones are even more efficient and allow you to save in the long term.
- CFL bulbs use only ¼ of the energy of incandescent bulbs and come in different shapes and styles. Make sure you dispose of them properly, as they contain small traces of mercury.
- LED bulbs are more expensive than CFLs but last longer and contain no mercury.
Part 2 of 3: Devices and Appliances
Step 1. Unplug household appliances and devices when not in use
Did you know that they continue to use electricity even when they are turned off? Therefore, it is not enough to turn off the switches: you have to unplug. Getting into this habit will allow you to save money over time.
- Turn off your computer and remove the plug from the power outlet when you are not using it. PCs are a major contributor to a home's energy consumption.
- Unplug televisions, radios and audio systems. Leaving the plugs plugged in all the time is a waste of money and energy.
- Don't forget the small appliances, such as the coffee machine, the toaster, the hair dryer and the mobile phone charger. The amount of energy used is small, but it accumulates over time.
Step 2. Reduce the use of appliances
Which ones do you really need every day? Think about your routine and determine how to save some energy. In some cases you will have to take care of more household chores, but in the end you will derive an economic and environmental benefit and will have the satisfaction of being self-sufficient. Examples:
- Let clothes dry outdoors instead of using the dryer. You will really save a lot of energy. And many believe that hanging the laundry is one of the most relaxing chores around the house.
- Use the dishwasher with a full load or, better yet, wash the dishes by hand, trying not to waste water.
- Use the broom instead of vacuuming every day. Of course carpets require this appliance, but crumbs and dirt residues can be swept away. Alternate the two methods.
- Use the oven only once a week to prepare everything you will eat. Leaving it to heat up wastes a lot of electricity, unless it goes on gas, so it cooks in one session what you will consume over the course of the week.
- Let your hair air dry instead of using a blow dryer, use less electric air fresheners and cut food by hand instead of using the food processor.
Step 3. Replace your existing appliances with low-power ones
In the past, manufacturers did not pay much attention to the energy required by their items, but today appliances are efficient and some include settings that allow you to decide how much energy to use during each cycle. The next time you need to buy one, find out before you go to the store.
Part 3 of 3: Heating and Refrigeration
Step 1. Use less hot water so as not to consume too much electricity
That's how:
- Wash your clothes in cold water, unless they are particularly dirty. Remember that hot water decreases their useful life.
- Take a shower, not a bath. Filling the tub requires liters and liters of hot water, showering much less.
- Take lukewarm showers. Do you really need to make a hot one once a day? Gradually lower the temperature until you get used to it and reserve hot water only for certain occasions.
- Isolate the water heater so as not to waste energy.
Step 2. Insulate your home to keep it from getting too cold in the summer or too hot in the winter
If drafts get in from windows or under the door, or pass through the basement, foundation, attic, or anywhere else on the property, you run the risk of finding yourself wasting electricity and money.
- Call someone to inspect her and determine if she needs to be isolated.
- Use sealant for areas around windows and doors. You can also buy plastic siding to cover the windows in the winter.
Step 3. Use little air conditioning
Keeping it on all the time in the summer is comfortable, but the bills will be high. Leave it off for most of the day and turn it on when the heat becomes unbearable. There are alternative strategies to freshen up:
- Take a cold shower in the afternoon.
- Open the windows and let the breeze in.
- Drink lots of water and melt ice cubes in your mouth.
- Go to the lake, river or pool.
Step 4. Don't raise the temperature too much in winter
Wear socks and wool sweaters to keep warm instead of relying solely on radiators.
Advice
- Watch less TV and convince your family to engage in activities that don't require electricity.
- Convert to solar energy. You can install panels on the roof of your house.
