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How Can I Make My Home Energy Efficient?

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Saving energy can benefit you heaps in the long run. When you reduce your energy consumption, your carbon emissions also decrease. These emissions profoundly impact our environment and cause climate change. So by just making a few changes to your energy use, you’ll be helping sustain our natural resources, breathe cleaner air, and be a better human being. Not to mention, you’ll be reducing your power bill by a significant amount.

So do you want to know now how to reduce your home’s energy consumption and save on power bills? We’ve compiled a list of some simple changes that can make your home more energy efficient.

Turn Off Your Lights When Not in Use

Did you know that lighting makes up for five per cent of the total energy consumption of an average Australian home? You can help save energy by just swapping your typical incandescent light bulbs to LED (light-emitting diode) bulbs. These bulbs are not only energy efficient but also longer lasting, saving you more bucks. And since an average household uses around 40 bulbs in their home, having this switch will slash off a chunk from your electric bill.

An easy way to save more energy is to just turn off the lights when you’re not using them. It sounds basic, but many of us have a terrible habit of forgetting to turn off the lights when we leave a room. If you’re guilty of this, consider switching to smart bulbs. Not only are they energy-efficient LED bulbs, but you can also conveniently turn them off with a swipe on your smartphone wherever you are. This perk comes in handy when you’ve already left your home but you’re unsure if you’ve turned off your lights. It’s an easy solution with just a few taps on your phone.

Regularly Maintain Your Heating and Cooling Equipment

Your home’s air conditioning and heating is the most notorious energy gobbler in your home. Roughly 40 per cent of your energy use comes from heating and cooling. To help you regulate the energy used by these appliances, why not install a smart thermostat? A smart thermostat will give you control over your home’s heating and cooling settings with a few taps on your smartphone. These advanced thermostats offer energy savings, readings, control, and more convenience than your average thermostats.

Is your cooling and heating equipment running well? Older and faulty heating and cooling systems can eat up much more energy than you think. Regularly maintaining your system will make a heap of difference in efficiency and energy savings. But if you notice no difference in your energy bill, then maybe it’s time to replace it with a new and energy-efficient model. Stay away from electric fan heaters as much as possible. They may be cheap, but you’ll be paying a higher price on your electric bill. Instead, invest in modern reverse cycle air conditioners. They are great energy savers and will outmatch gas heaters any day. Make sure to keep your temperature settings between 18 and 20 degrees Celsius though, so that it warms your home up while not consuming too much energy. This is because every time you raise the temperature an extra degree, a further 10% is added to your energy bill.

Manage Your Appliances’ Energy Usage

Your appliances will likely make up around 25% of your energy usage. That’s why it’s crucial to invest in energy-efficient appliances. You can also efficiently utilise energy with better use of your appliances and periodic maintenance. For example, washing clothes in cold water only uses about one-fifth of the energy consumed by washing them in warm water. The same principle applies to dishwashers.

Switching off your appliances at the powerpoint also conserves a massive amount of energy. Better yet, why not try smart plugs? They’re one of the easiest solutions to reduce the enormous load from appliances. Try grouping the devices you don’t frequently use, such as video game consoles, DVD players and stereo systems, onto a single power strip. You can then use a smart plug to turn them on and off conveniently with your smartphones as well. There are also programs like Energy Star that help you monitor your bigger appliances’ consumption and make sure they are energy efficient.

Harness the Power of the Sun

Along with saving energy, you can also generate clean energy by installing solar panels. This can be a way to cut down your power bills without having to reduce your energy use as much.

We hope reading this will inspire you to make a few lifestyle changes to help the environment. With a few simple steps, you should be able to make your home energy efficient!