14 Must-Know Home Energy Saving Tips
By: For Saving Heating & Cooling
If you are looking for ways to keep your costs low and take care of the environment too, then you have come to the right place.
You can easily improve home energy efficiency just by changing the way you use your everyday appliances.
And of course, this will not have any negative impact on your standard of living or comfort.
Let's get right into it!
Home Energy Saving Tip #1: Changing Your Thermostat
Just by changing your thermostat habits, you can lower the cost of your yearly bill.
In the summer, refrain from turning the thermostat down low thinking that it will help cool your house down faster.
It takes removing the humidity from the home to make it cooler, so whether you lower your thermostat or not, the humidity will not go away.
It will just make your air conditioner work more and produce the same effect.
On the other hand, if you are interested in long-term improvements, we encourage investing in a smart thermostat.
This will assist in setting some cooling and heating preferences based on what you want.
It will automatically adjust the temperature in each room based on your temperature preferences.
On top of that, it can even lower the overall consumption of energy every month from 10 to 20 percent.
Home Energy Saving Tip #2: Find The Right Temperature
If we take general average weather conditions outside in comparison to inside, it results in lower heating or cooling costs.
To find what the perfect temperature might be, try experimenting with your thermostat.
Try setting it to the recommended temperature in the summer months, that is 25.5C, and then adjust it for a point or two higher or lower, see how it feels like.
Home Energy Saving Tip #3: Set Your Thermostat Back
If you are interested in saving up on your heating costs, then we would suggest setting the thermostat a couple of degrees lower in the winter months, especially if you are away from your home.
Just note that this is a much better cost-saving option in the winter months than it is in the summer months.
As we already mentioned, in the summer the AC spends much more energy trying to remove the humidity before getting to the preferred temperature, which ultimately costs you more money.
Home Energy Saving Tip #4: Try Making Use Of Your Ceiling Fan
Keep your home cool and save on energy too by incorporating a ceiling fan.
Since summer is approaching, try using your fan counterclockwise instead of the AC to keep the room temperature low.
And in the winter, the ceiling fan can assist you too!
If you turn it to work clockwise, you can have all of the hot air pushed down without creating a breeze.
Home Energy Saving Tip #5: Overlook The Length Of Shower And Upgrade Your Showerhead
The best way to save on water is to keep track of how long you are in the shower.
Try setting a timer each time someone from your home is going into the shower.
You can also install a shower head that saves water for you.
We are aware that these are only small changes, but they can make much of a difference in the long run.
Home Energy Saving Tip #6: Use Cold Water When Washing Clothes
Believe it or not, the washing machine is the one that uses the most energy, even more than the dishwasher and shower together!
Try decreasing the level of energy it takes for a cycle to wash your clothes by setting them to rinse in cold water.
If your washing machine is not energy efficient, maybe you should consider replacing it with one that is.
And while we are on this subject, when you take your clothes out of your washing machine, hang them to dry instead of using a drying machine.
Home Energy Saving Tip #7: Make The Best Use Out Of Your Electronics
Anything from laptops to smartphones combined can cost a lot of energy daily.
What you were probably not aware of is that most of the devices you have in your home are using energy even when you are not using them.
This is usually called phantom power and it takes up about 10 percent of the electricity bill every month. You can monitor the usage of your appliances and save up on your bill.
Home Energy Saving Tip #8: Double-Paned Windows Are A Great Option
The windows in a home make up about 20 percent of the surface.
This is why it is of utmost importance to not let the air slip out from any cracks and gaps.
Make sure to choose some windows that have an insulating property.
The double-paned windows are an incredible option since they have gas in between to increase the insulation.
Home Energy Saving Tip #9: Shut Your Chimney
It is very important to seal your chimney when you are not using it, especially in the summer.
You may want to check the damper every once in a while to make sure it is not leaking.
If it is, make sure to hire a professional to repair that.
Home Energy Saving Tip #10: Invest In Your Attic Ventilation
Adequate ventilation is the key to having a cost-effective home.
If you have proper ventilation, during the hot months, the hot air moves out of your home through the attic, ensuring the home maintains a cool temperature.
And in the winter, the proper ventilation will help you keep warm.
Make sure to confirm with a professional whether you have enough ventilation in your attic.
Home Energy Saving Tip #11: Insulate Your Home With Plant Hedges
Trees can provide shade in the summer and the hedges can provide insulation in the winter – it is as simple as that!
The shrubs or hedges can form an air barrier that can insulate your exterior walls as well as the spigots.
Home Energy Saving Tip #12: Cover Your Windows In The Summer
The AC cools your home in the summer days by removing the humidity, so this is why it is very important to shut your windows during the summer when it is increasingly moist outside.
If you keep your windows open, you let the humidity in, thus resulting in your AC working longer and harder to maintain a cool temperature, furthermore resulting in a high electricity bill.
Home Energy Saving Tip #13: Add Motion Sensors To Exterior Lights
Cut back on the energy that often goes unused by installing some motion sensors to your exterior lights.
There is no point in keeping your lights on all of the time if you are not using them, this is considered a great way to cut down on your electricity bill.
Home Energy Saving Tip #14: Improve Your Cooling And Heating Systems
All of the newest HVAC systems are quite easy to use and it takes much less to operate them.
If your cooling and heating system is older than 15 years, then you might consider changing it to a more highly-efficient option.
Summary
And there you have it For Saving fans, 14 powerful yet easy home energy saving tips that'll boost home efficiency and save you a pretty penny.
If you have any questions about high-efficiency HVAC systems for your home feel free to call us at 416-335-0881 or chat with us on Facebook.
Until our next post, happy savings!