To make your home more energy efficient, a number of different steps, processes, and strategies would be used. Although you could do the same things that everyone else does, which is fine, a number of small changes would be considered just as important. Remember, the process of making the home energy efficient is about lowering the amount of energy used and reducing the amount of money you can spend on utilities. However, an energy efficient home is more – it is also about extending the life of appliances and mechanics and reducing greenhouse gas emissions to sustain a healthy planet.
While it is important for focus to be placed on energy and money, just remember that being serious about creating an energy efficient home means much more. For instance, when appliances are properly maintained, they operate at optimal levels. That means during operation they use less energy and because they are performing properly, they are not cycling on and off as often. Therefore, the appliances would last longer, the level of greenhouse gas emissions would be less, and the appliances would have the ability to do their job better.
We wanted to show you exactly how beneficial it is to maintain appliances as a part of the overall goal for having an energy efficient home. Look at the refrigerator as a prime example. This appliance needs to run efficiently to keep food cold to the point of being safe. For this to happen, the condenser coils need to be thoroughly cleaned twice a year. Located on the back of the unit, if the coils are not cleaned they greatly affect the ability for the refrigerator to perform and shorten its life. In addition, dirty condenser coils would require the refrigerator to work harder and longer, which means using a greater amount of energy and costing you more.
The process of cleaning the condenser coils is quite easy. Simply unplug the refrigerator from the wall and then with the help of a friend, pull it out so you can gain full access to the back. If the refrigerator were a built-in unit, you would need to make sure the power is turned off at the breaker box to avoid being shocked. Next, the back panel would be removed where you would see the coils but also what are known as cooling fins. Depending on the brand and model, this panel may be secured with screws.
With the long nozzle attached to your vacuum cleaner with the brush attached to the end, begin removing all the built up dust, pet hair, and debris. You will see the cooling fins, which are fan blades that keep the motor from overheating. As you work around them, take care not to bend them since many are made from lightweight material. After the coils have all been cleaned, the cover would be put back on and the refrigerator plugged back in or the breaker box flipped back on.
This process should only take 10 to 15 minutes to complete and while easy, the results mean less energy consumption and less money being sent to the utility company. Again, for a true energy efficient home, you need to consider everything. As you make one small change after another to various appliances and equipment within the home, everything will run optimally. With this, the amount of energy being used throughout the house decreases, along with your financial obligations in paying for energy used.
