By Looking to make your home more energy efficient? Here are some great ways to make your home more environmentally friendly while saving money on your power bill!
1. Invest in Insulation
Insulation is one of the most powerful ways to make your home more energy efficient. Insulation products help slow down the flow of heat so you can keep your home warmer in winter and cooler in summer. This means you won’t need to rely as much on artificial heating and cooling, reducing your energy consumption.
For maximum benefits, insulation should be installed throughout the home in the walls, ceiling, floors and between floors of a double storey home. For greater environmental benefits, choose products such as Earthwool insulation batts which have been manufactured with sustainable processes and materials.
2. Optimise Your Air Con
Heating and cooling consumes a lot of electricity, so making your air conditioner run more efficiently should be a priority. An easy way to make your air conditioner more energy efficient is to turn up the thermostat by a couple degrees so the system doesn’t have to work as hard.
If you are building or renovating and want to install a new air conditioning system, consider evaporative air conditioners. These systems tend to be more energy efficient than refrigerative air conditioning as they rely on the natural process of evaporation to cool your home and only use electricity for the fan and water pump.
3. Go Solar
Solar power harnesses free, clean energy from the sun and converts it into electricity that you can use in your home to power appliances. Solar panels are usually installed on your roof where they can gain maximum exposure from the sun throughout the day.
Solar power is a clean, renewable source of energy which means it’ll never run out and won’t release carbon dioxide and other pollutants into the environment. Depending on the electricity needs of your household and the climate of where you live, solar power might not provide all your electricity needs but it will significantly reduce your reliance on the grid.
4. Choose More Stars
Appliances that are rated with higher energy stars will help you reduce your household’s energy consumption. Although appliances with more stars tend to cost more, they will save you money in the long run by consuming less electricity on a daily basis. When it’s time for a new dishwasher, washing machine or fridge, look for more energy and water efficient options.
5. Change Your Habits
Small lifestyle changes can add up to make a big difference in your household’s energy consumption.
Here are some great ideas you can implement today:
- Turn appliances off when you’re not using them
- Use cold water to wash your clothes
- Hang dry your clothes rather than using a dryer
- Install low-flow shower heads
- Seal any gaps around your windows
- Replace your incandescent light bulbs with LED bulbs
- Use natural light when possible
- Use a fan instead of the air conditioner
Whether you invest in insulation, go solar or change your heating and cooling habits, making any of these changes to your home will reap benefits for the environment and your bank account!
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