Learning to make your home energy efficient can go a long way in reducing your energy costs and minimizing your carbon footprint. Although most people think of replacing their windows or installing solar panels, there are plenty of other extremely simple ways to reduce your energy consumption. Homeowners and renters can both take the following simple steps to improve how energy efficient their home’s are.
Replace Your Light Bulbs With LED Bulbs
No matter if you own your home or if you’re renting it, your first step towards improved energy efficiency is checking your lightbulbs. All of your lightbulbs should be LED because they’re the most energy efficient type on the market.
Another upside to using LED light bulbs is that they have a longer lifespan compared to the traditional light bulbs.
Use Darker Colored Drapes
Another simple item that can be replaced is your drapes. During the summers, your home will quickly heat up during the day which will likely entice you to crank up the AC. Instead of relying on your air conditioner, consider using dark drapes to block the sun during the hottest parts of the day. This can help cool down your house during those scorching summer days.
Change Your Air Filters
On a similar note, you should make sure to replace your air filters regularly. When air filters become dirty, more energy is required to pass the air through them. Routinely replacing air filters is a simple way you can lower the energy required by your heating and cooling system.
Be Mindful of Your Water Consumption
Being mindful of how much water you use can go a long way in reducing your overall energy consumption at home. One simple way to reduce water consumption is to shut the water off when you brush your teeth. Additionally, you can reduce your water consumption by taking showers instead of baths. If you’re a shower fanatic, consider shortening the length of your showers.
Another key thing to keep an eye out for is your laundry. If you want to do laundry, make sure you’re putting in a full load of clothes each time as it’ll significantly reduce your water consumption.
Wash Your Dishes and Laundry at the Same Time
Keeping up with the water tips, consider doubling up the chores when you’re using hot water. Two of the most common uses of hot water are running your dishwasher and doing laundry. Thus, next time you put in a load of laundry with hot water, get ready to run the dishwasher at the same time!
When you need to use hot water, it takes a significant amount of energy to heat that water. Therefore, when you double up the chores, you can reduce that energy consumption.
Use Low-Flow Shower Heads
Another way to lower your water consumption, and subsequently the heater, is to use low-flow showerheads. Buying these showerheads proves to be a cheap method of improving your home’s energy efficiency.
Unplug Unused Cables from Outlets
Take a look around your house and see how many outlets have cables plugged into them. Now, consider how many of those items plugged in are in use. If something isn’t being used, unplug the cord, so you can save on electricity. Similarly, whenever you go on vacation, unplug all the cables that aren’t necessary.
The Bottom Line on Making Your Home More Energy Efficient
Although all of Southdown Homes’ new construction homes in Pennsylvania are made to be energy efficient, there are still several everyday steps that residents can take to improve energy consumption. Follow the above tips if you want to reduce your energy usage, and reach out to us to learn more about the steps we take to ensure our new homes are energy efficient!
