There’s no doubt about it: we all want to decrease the amount of energy used yearly in our homes, especially now with the increasing cost of oil and gas. Now that the global economy has reopened, the demand for oil and gas has skyrocketed. With all of the products on the market that claim to use less energy, you could probably spend a huge amount of money trying to reduce your power consumption. A better strategy is to use the methods that have the most impact in lowering your home’s energy consumption
Why Save Energy?
The two main reasons that people tend to want to lower their power consumption are
- To Save Money
- To Protect the Environment
No matter what kind of political views you hold, it is easy for everyone to agree that using less power is an excellent idea. Using less energy will obviously translate into savings for you, but on a broader scale, it will lower greenhouse gases. Gas, when burned, produces carbon dioxide, which is a greenhouse gas. Greenhouse gases trap radiation from the sun, which results in a warming of the earth’s surface, also known as climate change. Climate change is responsible for:
- the extreme weather patterns we have been seeing,
- disrupting the food supply,
- and more wildfires.
- Consequently, the real question isn’t whether you should reduce your power consumption, but rather what’s the best way to achieve that goal?
1) Unplug the Cords
You may not realize it, but many of the electronic devices in your home continue to use energy even while they are turned off. The reason for this is they use phantom power, which creates a small amount of electrical waste continually. The only solution for this is to physically unplug the devices that are wasting electricity while not in use.
A few examples of the items in your home that might draw phantom power include:
- power surge protectors, cell phone chargers
- computers, printers, monitors
- televisions, gaming consoles
- stereo receivers and amplifiers
- microwaves, coffee makers, blenders, toasters
2) Replace Old or Faulty Windows
One of the most common sources of lost power occurs when drafty windows or doors allow heat to escape from your home, causing your heating system to work harder and consume more energy in the process. No matter what type of heater you have, you can guarantee that it uses a substantial amount of power to heat your home, especially through the winter season.
The best solution to this problem is to hire a local doors and windows company to replace your current installations with a new energy-efficient option. For example, you can get a professional window installation in Toronto to ensure that your windows continue to work correctly for years to come.
3) Scheduling Your Heating Use
While there’s nothing like enjoying a warm and cozy home through cold weather, you don’t need to set your heater to run constant high temperatures at all times. When everyone in your household is out of the home all day either at work or school, you can lower the temperature of your home to save money. You can also lower your home’s temperature at night to help you sleep better while you’re bundled up under warm blankets.
The easiest way to schedule your power consumption is to purchase an energy-saving thermostat that can work with your smartphone to schedule your power use. This way, you can ensure that you return to a warm home after a long day.
4) Maximize Efficiency with Appliances
Don’t use your washer unless you have a full load of laundry. Your dryer should be at least 3/4 full. These practices will save on energy by reducing the number of times you use the dryer, which uses a lot of energy compared to other appliances.
Similar to washer and dryer use, don’t run your dishwasher unless it is full. Don’t use the heat-dry setting on your dishwasher as it is very expensive.
When it comes to cooking, consider using a microwave, slow cooker or toaster oven as they use less electricity than traditional ovens.
If you’re looking to save power, hopefully you will try some of the above-noted tips for lowering your home’s energy consumption. If your windows and doors are the culprit, contact a company that sells windows in your area to find out whether you’re due for an upgrade that will lower your power bill.
You might be interested in reading, “How to Save Money When Shopping Online“.
