Just a few simple changes can help you save energy
Finding new ways to save energy is essential to both reducing your environmental impact and cutting your electric bill. As you may already know, we love sustainable solutions which also save you money – because they make your life simpler and they’re the type of changes anyone can make in their lives.
You may be ready to cut back on your energy use (or already taking some steps towards green energy) but looking for some easy ways to do so. Worry not, we’ve got your back – learning to save energy is easy if you take it one step at a time. Pick one of the green energy tips from this article and, once you’ve become comfortable with it, start building your routine by adding other energy-saving habits!
1. Unplug your electronics
Did you know that some electronics, such as your TV, computer, washing machine or phone charger are still drawing power from the socket even when they’re turned off? According to a recent study conducted in California, one-quarter of all power is consumed by electronics in idle mode!
Also referred to as vampire power, this electricity consumption can add a lot to your electric bill – so make sure you’re unplugging your electronics and appliances when they’re not in use.
2. Turn down your thermostat
Always try to warm up by wearing an extra layer of clothing before you turn up your thermostat – or turn down your thermostat by a degree or two and always wear the extra layer. Heating is one of the largest users of energy in our home, so every small change can go a long way.
Installing a smart thermostat if you don’t already have one can also help, as it can make your heating more efficient in general. Yes, it will require a small investment to begin with, but it will help you save energy and a lot of money in the long run.
3. Skip air conditioning whenever you can
If you live in a warm area and use air conditioning in the summer, try to skip using it when you can. Find other ways to cool down (such as by switching to lighter clothing, using a hand fan, taking a cold shower or having a cold drink) and only if they don’t help, turn on the air conditioning.
Similarly to heaters, air conditioners also consume large amounts of energy, so reducing your use of them can make a big difference!
4. Buy efficient appliances
Buying efficient appliances and saving on your electric bill in the long term has never been as easy as it is now when most electronics come with an energy-efficiency rating on the packaging!
However, do not consider this a tip to replace all your existing electronics with more energy-efficient ones right away. Yes, if you own an appliance that has the lowest energy rating, it may be worth looking into alternatives, but if your current possessions are not particularly sustainable, only replace them once they break.
5. Wash your clothes efficiently and at a lower temperature
To save energy and reduce your electric bill can be as easy as washing your laundry at 30 degrees instead of 40! However, that’s not all you can do when it comes to reducing the environmental impact and financial cost of doing laundry.
It’s also very important to make sure you’re always running full loads and choosing shorter cycles if the clothing is not particularly dirty.
6. Switch to a green energy supplier (or invest in a domestic green energy solution)
Switching to renewable energy sources is one of the most important steps towards stopping climate change – so take that step in your household. You’ll feel the financial savings in the long run, as green energy supply is expected to become increasingly more reliable and less prone to price spikes in the coming years, when non-renewable energy sources begin to run out.
If you have some savings to invest, you may also want to consider becoming independent by investing in domestic green energy solutions such as solar panels or hydro power. This would make you completely autonomous, which will be especially beneficial in case energy prices go up in the future.
7. Eliminate draft
Cold drafts could be costing you a lot of money and significantly increasing your environmental footprint. It causes your home to lose heat quickly, making you use your heating more.
Seal any cracks in your floors or skirting boards, block an unused chimney and ensure all your doors shut properly without any gaps underneath. In addition, if your windows are not double-glazed, you may also want to consider making that investment, as you’ll be losing a lot of heat through them otherwise.
8. Get outside
If you’re not inside your home, you’re not using any of the electronics in it and you don’t need to heat or air condition it. Sometimes, finding solutions to save energy and lower electric bills can be as easy as spending more of your time outside!
Nowadays, when most of us live in isolation, our at-home electric usage can skyrocket. Despite not being able to attend social occasions, you can still enjoy the great outdoors by yourself or with your household members – with energy savings as a bonus.
9. Cook efficiently
Learning to cook for lower electric bills and reduce energy usage is another important habit to build – especially if you’re someone who cooks often.
Always make sure to choose the right pot size – there’s no point in boiling one serving of pasta in a large pot full of water. When cooking, it’s also best to prepare larger batches of meals to then heat up in the microwave, rather than cooking a new meal every day or using any other way of heating up your leftovers.
If you’re baking in the oven, which consumes the most energy of all the different cooking methods, make sure to keep the door shut – opening it excessively will lead to heat escaping and more energy being consumed. You may also want to switch the oven off a few minutes before your meal is done cooking because a decent oven will still maintain the required temperature up to 10 minutes after being turned off!
10. Monitor your energy use
Lastly, simply being aware of how much electricity you’re using and where it’s going can help make you much more mindful of your usage. If you see your usage spike up, find out why that is and how you can prevent it.
Some spikes are normal, such as when the weather gets increasingly cold or hot where you live, but some may be signs of some space for improvement.