Easy and Smart Ways to Save Electricity at Home
By Diana Smith
In recent years saving energy has become an important aspect of people’s everyday life. It will not only save you some money, but you will help save our environment. Here are some simple yet effective ways you can save electricity at home. Take a look.
Use natural light
If you’re blessed with a lot of natural light during the day, use it. Open the blinds and shutters and let the sunshine in. Make the brightest room in the house the living room, and you can spend the day without using any artificial light. Use white and light colors for the walls to make the best use of natural light.
Use more candles
Candles not only make for pleasant homey atmosphere, they can cut off few bucks from your electricity bill. Reserve a night or two per week to turn the lights off and bring out the candles. The slow-burning candles burn the whole evening and cast a enough warm light. You can use these nights to read or spend some quality time with your family or friends. You can tell stories, talk about your day or simply have fun relaxing before bed. Be sure to explain your kids and youngsters how to deal with fire, and keep all fire starting items in a safe place.
Unplug unused appliances
Plugged-in appliances and electronic devices continue to consume some electricity even when they are turned off. Computers probably use up the most energy in the household, so unplug them when you’re finished using them. The same goes for your TV, sound system, coffee maker, toaster, microwave. Even though small appliances use up less energy, it still adds up to a nice amount. Try to remember to unplug unused devices and save some money over time.
Get Energy Star appliances
10 or 20 years ago appliance manufacturers didn’t care how much electricity their products used as long as they worked fine. Today, many manufacturers put energy consumption at the top of their list of priorities. Most new appliances have an energy efficient cycle or settings, and they are made so that they use electricity efficiently. If you have an old appliance that needs replacing, try looking for the model with Energy Star label, or a similar label of energy efficiency.
Use LEDs
Replace your old lights with LEDs or CFL bulbs. Old bulbs release a lot of energy in the form of heath, so they make the space warmer resulting in increased air conditioning use. LEDs and CFLs are much more energy-friendly and they save a lot of energy over time. LEDs are the most efficient, since they last longer, give brighter light and consume less electricity. LED suppliers like Superlight can equip your home with LEDs from the basement to the roof. This small investment will undoubtedly save you money over time.
Properly insulate your home
If your home isn’t properly insulated, you’re basically flushing money down the drain. Your home is releasing cold air in the summer and warm air in the winter, resulting in you having to turn up the air conditioning even higher. Check for cracks around the windows and doors, in your basement, attic, or anywhere where you think you can be leaking energy. You can hire a contractor to examine the space for leaks and decide whether you need additional insulation or just simple door seals and caulk to close up all the cracks.
With these tip and tricks you’ll save a significant amount of money a year, and help our environment in many ways. It doesn’t require many sacrifices, but the rewards are plentiful. Save electricity and leave your children a better and brighter tomorrow.