Reducing Energy Consumption in and around Your Home

Going green is not only a trend – it’s a necessity. We all need to “chip in” by reducing our energy footprint in order to make it easier on the environment. Human caused global warming manifests in the form of erratic weather and, to be perfectly true, we are the ones suffering the consequences the most. In order to live in the equilibrium with nature, here’s what you need to know about reducing energy consumption in and around your home.

Exterior

When it comes to size of heating and cooling equipment for central air conditioning, bigger does not necessarily mean better. The temperature might be controlled more easily, but you have to take into consideration the noise as well as the electricity spent. Go for the undersized equipment, possibly with an energy star attached to it. As far as exterior lights go, you can replace all of them with LEDs that shine just as efficiently, but they don’t spend even a 10% of the electricity the regular incandescent light bulb tends to eat up.

If your house is losing heat (or it’s actually cold), that probably means you have an insulation problem. It is much more prudent to call a professional who can locate the problems and ameliorate them for a reasonable sum. This investment will, of course, pay off in the long run as better insulation means leaner utility and electricity bills. Also – plant some trees around your home. The benefits of this are too long for the list, but in short – they improve the quality of air, protect your house from sunlight, insulate the sound, and create privacy.

Living space

Living room, bedroom, and home office can also be redone to an extent in order to reduce the energy consumption. Begin the process with concentrating on light sources. Just like with the exterior, replace all the lights with energy-saving LED variants.

If your HVAC system is outdated, you are spending much more energy than you should on heating and cooling your property. Replacing an old HVAC unit with a new one will not only considerably reduce energy consumption, but also maximize thermal comfort and indoor air quality. Whether you decide on a whole-house central air system or several mini-split ductless units for different rooms of your home, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the efficiency that these contemporary devices provide.

Furthermore, drapes can be a life saver no matter the weather. They serve as an additional layer of insulation on the windows, and protect you from both the heat and the cold.

Attic and basement

Attics and basements are a nightmare for energy leaks. They are usually the most porous parts of the household, so you’ll have to pay extra attention to them. Check if the ventilation ducts are working properly, and never use duct tape to fix problems. If the damage to the ventilation is too big, you’ll probably have to call a professional to fix it.

Additionally, make sure both the attic hatch and the basement door are solidly insulated. In fact, if you are moving into a new house, always take extra precaution to add one more layer of insulation to these doors.

Dehumidifiers can remove excess moisture that tends to amass in these corners of the household. If the overall insulation in both of these parts of the household is lacking, a layer of spray foam insulator with additional panel covers will fix most of your problems. Spray foam is not only an efficient insulator – applying it is also one of the most time-saving methods to properly isolate your house.

Kitchen

There are two dimensions relative to the kitchen area you should pay close attention to if you want to reduce your energy consumption. First, you should probably replace your appliances with ENERGY STAR variants, which are usually both more sophisticated and less costly. Second, concentrate on the sink area, and think of the most reasonable ways to save water. Repairing faucet leaks goes without saying – they look innocuous, but tend to waste gallons of clean water over the course of a month.

It is fair to say we have enraged Mother Nature. Careless behavior towards the environment has created a misbalance in the natural order, and the biosphere is striking back through extreme weather conditions and erratic storms. The road to finding proper balance is hard, but this is exactly why we all need to contribute. By reducing energy consumption in and around your home, you will not only contribute to the larger cause, but you will also save a lot of money.