People are consuming more power every day. At the height of summer, power supplies become low because most households spend so much energy trying to cool their homes. They also waste a lot of energy by leaving appliances plugged, running, or not checking how well their houses are insulated. These tips will help you lower your electric consumption and conserve energy at the same time.
Examine the drafts
Without the right insulation, a great amount of energy goes to waste as you try to heat or cool down your house. Make sure that your insulation is tight all over your doors and windows. Other areas to check are your attic hatches, electrical outlets, wall-mount air-conditioning systems, plumbing, and more. You can add attic insulation as it keeps your home energy efficient during summertime. If you are from the Houston area, you can consult an attic insulation professional for expert advice.
Do a thorough maintenance check
Make sure that all of your energy-consuming home appliances are performing at their best. Sometimes all it takes is just a bit of cleaning. The fridge, for instance, has dirty coils that cause it to consume more energy than it should. You can easily clean it with a vacuum cleaner. Also, look into the energy efficiency ratio (EER) of your appliances. It tells you whether a certain appliance consumes a lot of energy when in use. Buy those with an ERR rating of 10 or more.
Make nature your best friend
You can mimic the greenhouse effect to save energy around the house. When it is summer, close the drapes during the hottest times of the day to ensure the temperature remains cool inside the house. During winter, open them up and allow some sunshine in to help warm the house.
Turn off appliances when not in use
Too much energy is wasted just because many people neglect to turn off the lights when not in use. The same goes for the electric fans, TV, and other small electronic gadgets. A lot of people think that because they are small and consume a small amount of energy, it’s okay to leave them on. Small things do add up, and they can contribute greatly to your huge electricity bill. Do something about it while you can.
Switch to LED bulbs
Incandescent bulbs are a thing of the past, and they eat a lot of electricity. Switching to energy-saving LED bulbs may be expensive at the onset, but the savings that you will reap in the long run will be well worth it. Moreover, LED bulbs last ten times longer than your regular incandescent bulb.
Unplug all appliances when not in use
Did you know that electric appliances still consume 20% electricity even if they are switched off but left plugged into the outlet? Think about your TV, air conditioner, computer, and microwave. Unplugging all of them will help you reduce your electricity bill by 20%.
These are efficient ways you can save energy at home during the summer. Many of these are quick fixes and easy solutions that when put into practice in your home can lower next month’s electric bill.
