Over time these changes not only save energy, but they can save you money as well.
Here are some tips on how to become more energy efficient throughout your home or apartment:
Water Conservation
About 75 percent of water usage inside the home is used in the bathroom. Eight percent of water is used in the kitchen. These are two great starting points to make simple changes first.
- Purchase a new low-flow shower head. These energy efficient shower heads can save about two gallons of water per minute.
- Take short showers vs. baths. A 10-minute shower, combined with a low-flow shower head, can save about two to five gallons per minute, or $145 a year on your electric bill.
- Check your toilet, faucets or water hose bibs for any leaks and repair them. This can lead to tremendous cost-savings if a leaky faucet or toilet is discovered.
- Wash only full dishwasher loads and don’t rinse the dishes before putting them inside. Many energy efficient dishwashers use much less water than if you were to wash them by hand.
- Purchase a low-flow aerator for your faucets, which may cut your water usage in half.
- Consider purchasing an energy efficient dishwasher or washing machine, rather than buying an older one. You’ll save money in the long run since newer models tend to use up to 25 percent less water than used or older appliances.
- Insulate your hot water pipes. If you are able to add insulation to your hot water pipes, it can help decrease the amount of water often wasted while you are waiting for the water to get hot.
- Wash your clothing in cold water and don’t over dry your loads.
- Water outdoors when the sun isn’t out. Water is less likely to be lost to evaporation and has a better chance of reaching the roots of your plants and grass.
- Use sprinklers that spray lower to the ground. Sprinklers that spray high in the air are more likely to lose water through evaporation. Drip irrigation systems are a nice alternative, which apply water directly to the plant’s roots.
Other Home Energy-Saving Tips
- Replace your light bulbs with energy-efficient bulbs.
- Maximize the use of your ceiling fan. A ceiling fan can be used both in the summer and winter, allowing you to circulate heat or cooled air. Most fans have a switch that allows you to create an updraft during the winter, forcing warm air down into the room. On hot days, turn up your thermostat by two degrees and use your ceiling fan, providing up to a 14 percent savings on overall cooling costs.
- Install a programmable thermostat. This allows you to adjust your temperature settings for when you’re away at work or at night when everyone is asleep.
- Purchase energy efficient electronics whenever possible. Consumer electronics marked with the Energy Star label consume less energy, even when they aren’t in use.
Category:
