We all know we should be thinking more about the environment. Helping the environment starts at home. Here are a few tips to make sure your home is as green as it could be. This will not only help the environment but save you money.
Check Everything Is At Optimum Efficiency
Insulation is one of the most important ways to prevent loss of energy. You could lose up to 50% of your home’s heat through uninsulated walls and roofing. So make sure your attic and walls are insulated. This will not only help to save the planet but will help to lower your energy bills.
Similarly, test your windows to ensure there are no draughts. Place your hand on each of your windows between the frame and the wall. If you can feel cold air you are losing heat. If your windows are old you may want to consider replacing them. A cheaper option is to buy draught excluders online.
Make sure your appliances are working at maximum efficiency. For example, when you use your washing machine or dishwasher, make sure it is full. Running machines that are only half full are a waste of water and electricity. However, if you are using your kettle, only fill it with the water you need. Boiling a full kettle for one cup of tea not only wastes electricity but also takes longer.
Use Only What You Need
The biggest way to save electricity at home is to turn electricals off standby mode. Electrical devices on standby can use up to 85% of the energy they use when turned on. If you turn them off by the mains or unplug them, you will save electricity and money. Electrical devices left on standby can also be a fire hazard. So it’s best to turn them, off when they are not in use.
When turning on an electrical device ask yourself do I really need to use this? In our age of technology, we sometimes rely on technology too much. For example, tumble dryers are put on when the laundry could be hung to dry. Don’t put on your extractor fan when you cook if you can open a window instead. Consider putting on a jumper or snuggling under a blanket before you turn the heating up. Technology is becoming more and more energy-efficient but we should consider alternatives before use.
Many people are guilty of leaving a room and forgetting to turn off the lights. Getting into the habit of turning lights off when you are not using them will save electricity and money. Depending on the type of bulb, lightbulbs can lose up to 90% of their electricity as heat so lowering the time the lights are on will make it cooler in the summer.
Conserve Water
Water is also a limited resource so we should be conserving water at home. The best way to do this is to stop taps from dripping. You don’t realise how much water you are wasting from a dripping tap until you it stops.
If you take a shower instead of taking a bath, you can conserve a lot of water. Depending on how long you shower for, you could save up to 2/3 of the water used for a bath. Fitting a water-efficient showerhead will also reduce the amount of water you use.
Conserving water will lower your water bills and your electricity bills as you will use less electricity to heat the water. Water also has a surprisingly high carbon footprint. It takes a lot of energy to treat and pump water to homes. By using less water we are also saving the planet.
Making Your Home Greener
We all want to make our homes greener and more energy-efficient. Making small steps can have a bit impact on the health of the planet and the cost of our bills.
