Saving electricity has become an important step in recent years. The use of electricity without paying attention to energy savings has an effect on global warming and also on electricity bills. Choosing appliances wisely, being aware of your energy consumption habits, and doing household chores creatively can help you save money and give you peace of mind, as you are already making efforts to reduce the strain on the environment. Read on to find out strategies to save electricity in your home.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Indoor and Outdoor Lighting
Step 1. Use more natural lighting
Do you tend to close the curtains and turn on the lights? Flood your home with natural light for incredible electricity savings. Unless you need bright, focused light to complete a specific task, turn off the lights during the day and use sunlight for room lighting.
- During the day, arrange family work and play space in a bright room in the house. This way everyone in the family can read, work on art projects, use the computer, and so on without relying on artificial lighting.
- Use light colored curtains and curtains as window coverings. Look for a cover that provides privacy but still allows light to spread through the room.
Step 2. Design several rooms as a place for the family to gather at night
Instead of spreading out throughout the house, spend family curfews in just one or two rooms. That way you don't have to light up the whole house to enjoy the evening, plus you'll have the added bonus of spending quality time with each of the family members.
Step 3. Use candles to replace electric bulbs several times a week
You don't have to wait for a storm to turn off the electricity in your home to light a candle. Choose one or two nights a week to turn off the lights and light up the house with long-lasting, slow-burning candles. Kids will be interested, and you can save electricity as well as money.
- You can use a night candle to turn off the lights in your home. Invite family members to do activities that don't require electricity, such as reading by candlelight or telling fun stories.
- Make sure your children know how to light candles safely, and that candles and matches are kept in a safe place when not in use.
Step 4. Rethink outdoor lighting systems
Leaving the porch light on all night can use up a lot of electricity. Determine if turning on the lights all night is really necessary before turning them off at night.
- If you turn on lights around the house for home safety, you can use automatic security lights with motion detectors instead of using lights that are constantly on.
- Decorative lights that complement a garden or pathway at home can be replaced with solar-powered lights that charge during the day and emit a pleasant soft glow at night.
- If you use decorative lights during the holidays, turn them off before going to bed, rather than turning them on all night.
Step 5. Use energy-saving light bulbs
Replace all incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent (CFL) or LED bulbs. Incandescent bulbs release some of the energy into heat instead of light. The new type of ball is much more energy efficient, and saves a lot of electricity and money over time.
- CFLs use only about 1/4 of the energy of incandescent bulbs, and come in shape and style. Be sure to dispose of this lamp properly, as it contains small amounts of mercury.
- LED bulbs are more expensive than CFLs, but last longer and don't contain mercury.
Method 2 of 3: Equipment and Electronics
Step 1. Unplug everything
Did you know that appliances and electronics continue to drain while they are plugged in, even when they are turned off? The habit of unplugging appliances when not in use can save a lot of energy.
- Turn off the computer and unplug it when not in use. Computers are one of the main causes of energy spikes in households, so unplugging them at night after you've finished checking your email is worth doing.
- Unplug the TV, radio and sound system. Keeping it plugged in is a waste of electricity and money.
- Don't forget small appliances like coffee makers, toasters, hair dryers and cell phone chargers. Although the energy used is small, it will accumulate over time.
Step 2. Reduce dependence on equipment
What equipment do you really have to use every day? Think about your routines and determine which routines can save energy. In certain tasks you may have to spend extra time to complete, but it is worth the energy, money and satisfaction savings as you become more independent. As an example:
- Dry your clothes on a clothesline outside instead of using the dryer. This saves a lot of energy, and many people find hanging clothes on the clothesline to be one of the more relaxing jobs.
- Fill the dishwasher to the brim instead of half full. You can also wash dishes by hand using tap water instead of relying on the dishwasher to do it.
- Use a broom to replace the vacuum cleaner. For carpets you can still vacuum occasionally, but you can sweep away large crumbs and sticky dirt with a broom. Using a vacuum cleaner every day uses a lot of energy.
- Bake the cake on the same day of the week. Heating the oven requires a lot of electricity (unless your oven runs on gas), so it's even better to preheat it once and bake more than once, rather than baking a cake every day for a week.
- Reduce dependence on small equipment. Let your hair dry on its own instead of using utensils, stock up on air fresheners you normally use, and cut food by hand instead of using a food processor.
Step 3. Replace your equipment with an energy efficient model
In the past, manufacturers didn't think about how much energy was used in their products, but over time many large appliances have been made more energy efficient, and some of these include settings for choosing how much energy to use in a given cycle. If you have to change equipment at a different time, look for a model that doesn't use too much electricity.
Method 3 of 3: Heating and Cooling
Step 1. Reduce the use of hot water
Heating water requires a lot of electricity; the hotter the water you use, the longer the water heater will have to use. Reducing your daily use of hot water is an important way to save energy. Start a new habit of saving hot water:
- Wash clothes in cold water. Unless you want to wash clothes that are soiled, you don't need to use hot water for washing; in fact, hot water will damage clothes more quickly.
- Use the shower instead of the bath. Filling the tub requires a lot of hot water; shower uses much less hot water.
- Take a cold shower. Do you really have to take a hot shower every day? Reduce the temperature of the hot water slightly each time until you get used to the lukewarm temperature. Save hot water for certain times.
- Insulate the water heater. A non-insulated water heater will waste the energy released from the heater instead of being used to heat the water. Make sure you have a new insulated model designed to save energy.
Step 2. Isolate your home
Make sure your home doesn't release too much air during the summer or hot air during the winter. If there are cracks in window frames, under doors, under the ground or foundation, in the attic, or elsewhere in your home, there will be a leak of electricity as well as money.
- Have the contractor inspect your home to determine if additional insulation is needed.
- Use caulk and door seals to seal the area around windows and door frames. You can also buy plastic sheeting to cover the windows during the winter.
Step 3. Use air conditioning sparingly
The desire to keep the house comfortable and cool during the summer is always accompanied by great expense. Turn off the air conditioner, and turn it on only to cool the room and when the heat becomes uncomfortable. Use alternative strategies to cool yourself off if possible.
- Take a cold shower when it's hot in the afternoon.
- Open the window and let the wind in.
- Drink plenty of water and ice water to stay cool.
- Spend some time outside near a lake, river, or pool.
Step 4. Keep the house at a lower temperature in winter
You can save a lot of money by turning the thermostat a few degrees lower during the winter than heating the house to its full potential. Wear socks and woolen sweaters to stay warm, and don't rely on your home's heating system.
Tips
- Limit TV to a few hours during the week, and encourage family members to do activities that don't require electricity.
- Switch to solar or wind power for incredible savings. You can even install solar panels at home yourself.
