There are several ways you can reduce your home or business’s energy consumption, ranging from choosing the best electricity plans to investing in extensive home improvements. Conserving energy can help you save on utility bills while protecting the environment, making the simple act beneficial for everyone.
Here are the six best ways you can conserve energy.
Power Options
You can get several plans from a local electricity shop, but the best one to consider is ‘green power.’ That’s because this type of electricity plan usually sources its energy from renewable methods, making it more environmentally-friendly and cost-effective. These include biomass energy, solar energy, and geothermal energy. Choosing these ways to energize your home or establishment can protect your surroundings from pollution while providing you clean and cheap energy.
However, keep in mind that the initial costs of these may be higher than traditional fossil fuel energizing methods. Still, it’s worth every penny—saving you more electricity and money down the line.
Invest in a Wind Turbine
A wind turbine works following a simple principle, which is instead of using traditional electricity to create wind like electric fans, wind turbines use the wind to produce electrical currents. Gusts of winds can turn the propeller-like blades of turbines around a rotor, spinning a generator, creating electricity. This alternative doesn’t pollute the air like your typical power plants relying on pollutive fossil fuels’ combustion, like coal and natural gas. These can emit particulate matter, including sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide, known to cause human health issues and massive damage to the economy.
Investing in a wind turbine or two can help you lessen those drastic effects as they don’t produce the atmospheric emissions caused by fossil fuels. Plus, wind power is cost-effective and is one of the cheapest energy sources available today, costing around 1 to 2 cents per kilowatt-hour.
Have a Home Backup Battery System
A home backup battery system consists of several backup batteries that can provide power to electrical systems when the initial source is down—ranging from a single cell battery that power computers to batteries that can energize an entire power supply system. These can also power emergency lighting during a power failure, providing uninterrupted gas turbines to power supply networks. The best part about this strategy is that it’s 100% eco-friendly and cost-effective, allowing you to enjoy energy even when the power’s out or unavailable.
Although the upfront costs for a home backup battery system are high, the lifetime savings you’d enjoy in the long run is irreplaceable—allowing you to enjoy clean energy long-term.
Invest in Energy-Efficient Windows
Not many people know this, but windows are a significant source of energy waste. That’s because they can add up to 10% to 25% of your whole heating bill. You can avoid this by replacing single-pane windows with double-pane alternatives instead, preventing massive heat loss, allowing you to save electricity and money over time. It’s best for houses situated in colder areas to invest in gas-filled windows with Low-E coatings to offer the same benefits.
Reduce Appliance Usage
Reducing appliance usage can not only help you conserve energy and reduce electricity bills but doing this can also keep your house cooler. Common appliances and gadgets like stereos, computers, and hair dryers can produce an average amount of heat, while dishwashers and ovens exude more. To keep your home cooler and save money and electricity while doing so, consider cooking outside.
Simple adjustments such as filling the dishwasher and washing machine every time you use them and wait to turn them on when temperatures are lower can save you tons over time. Additionally, consider investing in appliances with more energy-efficient alternatives.
Invest in a Smart Thermostat
A programmable or ‘smart’ thermostat is one of the best ways you can save energy, automatically turning off and reducing heating or cooling during times you’re away from home or are asleep. Investing in a smart thermostat allows you to reduce wasteful energy usage from unnecessary heating and cooling without upgrading your HVAC system. This improvement can save you around $180 every year and tons of electricity.
Smart thermostats come in different models that you can set to fit with your lifestyle and weekly schedule. Additional features of programmable thermostats include indicators that let you know when it’s time to replace filters—ultimately improving the efficiency of your HVAC system.
Besides the economic impact electricity conservation has on your home or business establishment, knowing the most efficient ways to save energy helps the state electric grid in its entirety. The strategies mentioned are just some of the best and environmentally-friendly ways to conserve electricity consumption—helping you save electricity, money, and the environment.
