Easy Green: How to Make Your Home More Energy-Efficient

No one likes to have a light bill that’s through the roof. By making sure your home is as energy-efficient as possible you’ll be saving yourself some cash and helping the environment.

• Make use of Energy Management Systems (EMS). These are systems range from simple timers to those that track high energy consuming areas.

• Your appliances might all seem to be in good working order, but how old are they? Old and outdated appliances could be adding dollars to your light bill. Older appliances are less energy-efficient than newer models. If you’re changing an outdated appliance, make sure to look for a replacement that has Energy Star certification.

• Many people have made the switch from incandescent light bulbs to compact fluorescent bulbs, which use 25 – 30% less energy. However, LED lights particularly those rated by Energy Star, save even more in energy consumption over the long term.

• We often leave phone chargers plugged in even when not in use. Your phone might not be charging, but the charger is still using energy. In the quest to make your home more energy-efficient make sure to always plug out chargers when you’re not using them.

• Put appliances like televisions and cable boxes on a power surge strip and switch the strip off when they’re not in use.

• When using air conditioners, make sure that the space you’re cooling is properly enclosed, that all doors and windows seal tightly. Air conditioners should be selected based on the size of the area to be cooled. Always look for models with an energy efficiency ratio (EER) of 10 or higher.

• If you can manage it, install solar panels. Using renewable energy rather than relying on the power company, will drastically reduce your energy costs. Installing solar panels is an expensive venture, but there may be institutions around with financing offers specifically geared towards solar.

Soucres: Green Future, Conserve Energy Future, DIY Network, Green Home Guide