If there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s that we’d all like cheaper power bills. Most of us would also like to reduce our homes’ carbon footprint. But how do we get there? In a survey of more than 10,000 Americans, only one in three believed their homes to be energy efficient, which could suggest a gap in knowledge of energy-efficient practices.
In the home, energy efficiency is simply using less power to do the same tasks you usually do. It can be achieved on any budget and can mean anything from using energy-saving appliances to being mindful of standby power.
Let’s take a closer look at why we need energy efficiency and how you can achieve it in your own home.
Why we need to be more energy efficient
Put simply, the need for energy efficiency boils down to two things: saving the environment and saving money.
- Environmental benefits: Most of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions are generated by burning fossil fuels such as coal, gas liquids, natural gas, and petroleum for energy use. With the undeniable link between these pollutants and climate change, reducing emissions has become more important than ever. Energy efficiency aims to tackle this issue on the demand side. With sustainable power use in the home, the need for fossil fuel-generated power is reduced, which is great news for the environment.
- Financial savings: If sustainability isn’t enough of a motivation, there’s always the possibility of saving money. Power bills only ever seem to go in one direction — and for most Americans — that’s up. It’s safe to say we’d all like to pay less for energy, but since we’re not in charge of setting the prices, we’re left with the option of reducing the amount of power we use. Energy-efficient homes will see annual savings of between $105 and $627 on average for little to no added effort.
With these reasons in mind, we’ve listed some straightforward ways to make your household more energy efficient.
Understanding your energy usage
The first step in reducing your energy usage and powering your home more efficiently is understanding which elements of your home use the most power.
ENERGY STAR suggests that heating and cooling are the top power drains in your home, accounting for a combined 42% of your energy bill. Next up is electronics such as TVs, laptops, and home office equipment, contributing up to 21%. Water heating, appliances, and lighting all make up 12-13% of your bill apiece.
Money aside, these figures point the finger at the most power-consuming parts of your home, and can also indicate where you‘d reduce your usage for reasons pertaining to sustainability.
Heating and cooling: How to be more energy efficient
The best way to make your home more energy efficient is to manage your heating and cooling. As mentioned, it’s the top power guzzler in your home, accounting for almost half of your power bill. You could save up to 10% on heating and cooling costs just by adjusting your thermostat by around 7-10°F for eight hours a day.
- Reducing your cooling cost
In the summer months, the ideal cooling temperature is around 78°F for warmer climates. Set your air conditioner or thermostat to this temperature when you’re at home. If you have a thermostat, get in the habit of bumping it up a few degrees at night or when you leave home, especially if it’s a particularly hot day. This is important because your cooling and heating devices work harder when the weather is more extreme. So, if it’s more than 90°F outside, your air conditioner will need to generate more power in order to bring your room temperature down.
- Bring down your heating bills
The same goes for the cooler months. The ideal thermostat or air conditioner reading in the winter months is around 68°F, but this of course depends on your climate. Once again, when going to bed or leaving the house, don’t forget to adjust your thermostat by turning it down a bit more.
If you have a programmable or smart thermostat, simply set the temperature to these recommended settings in line with when you’re home, out, and going to sleep.
Energy-efficient air conditioners and heaters
If you’ve got an old or non-efficient air conditioner or heating system, you may be wondering if it’s time for an upgrade. But with so many types of energy-efficient air conditioners and heaters around, it can be confusing to pick out the best one for your home.
If your unit is more than 10 years old, you may first think about calling someone in for maintenance. Before it gets to that, consider a home warranty which covers most diagnosis and replacement or repair costs on air conditioners. If replacement is necessary, households with American Home Shield Warranty are compensated for a new system, with payments varying based on the circumstances and plan.
If it comes down to buying a new unit, opting for an energy-efficient air conditioner or heater will save you money in the long run. An easy way to identify efficient products is by looking for the blue ENERGY STAR logo. The ENERGY STAR is granted to products that pass a certain standard of energy efficiency. Each appliance is independently reviewed to make sure it can deliver the efficiency, performance, and savings customers may expect.
By buying an ENERGY STAR qualifying air conditioner or heater, you’ll be using less energy to regulate your home’s temperature and cutting down your power bill.
9 more ways to make your home energy efficient
While heating and cooling do make up a large portion of our home’s energy consumption, they’re not the only places we should be conscious of our usage. Here are nine more ways to ensure your home is running as efficiently as possible:
Be aware of energy vampires
Even when you’re not using your appliances, some of them still use power. These are what we call energy vampires. When appliances and electronics such as your microwave oven, desktop computer, or TV are plugged into the outlet, they’re using a small quantity of electricity.
While it may not seem like a big deal, when you add up the energy usage of all your appliances on standby over a year, it could cost you a few dollars a month, depending on the efficiency of your electronics. Even if you’re not concerned about price, it’s worth thinking about the environmental significance of saving power in your home.
So, when you’re done using an appliance or electronic device, unplug it from the outlet until the next time.
Switch to LED lighting
Before LED bulbs became popular, incandescent dominated the world of lighting. If it’s been a while since you’ve changed your light bulbs out, or you’re simply still buying incandescent bulbs out of habit, consider switching them out for LED bulbs.
Incandescent bulbs use roughly six times the power of LEDs, which can really add up considering most households rely on overhead lights and lamps at night.
It may seem redundant to spend money on new bulbs, especially if yours are still functional, but you’ll be pleased to know that the upfront cost will likely be paid off in no time via power bill savings. Not only that, but you’ll be using less power, and therefore doing your bit for the earth without much effort.
Wash clothes responsibly
It’s recommended that you, where possible, wash your clothes in cold or warm water. Switching your loads from hot to warm water can cut your energy use in half.
This is because most of the energy used for doing laundry comes from hot water. Since hot water heating can contribute to around 13% of your overall energy usage, it’s worth bearing in mind where it’s easiest to reduce your power consumption.
When it comes to drying, always opt for air-drying unless you’re in a pinch. This will not only save power, but it’ll most likely be better for your clothing, too.
Change your bath time habits
There’s nothing better than a long, hot bath, but unfortunately, your wallet and the environment won’t love it as much as you do. This is because hot water usage accounts for a decent chunk of your home’s energy usage, and drawn-out baths are a major culprit.
If you have the means, replace your showerhead with a low-flow unit that will cut down your water wastage by reducing your water pressure. In the meantime, simply try keeping your showers to under three minutes.
From an environmental standpoint, the benefits are two-fold, as you’re both limiting your water use and hot water heating. Your back pocket may also thank you for cushioning the blow of your next power bill.
Choose energy-efficient products
The blue ENERGY STAR logo is everywhere, and chances are you’re familiar with it. But do you really know what it means? It’s awarded to refrigerators, washers, dryers, heat pumps, and even light bulbs that are considered to be “energy-efficient”.
When choosing an ENERGY STAR qualifying appliance, you’ll be using less energy when compared to a non-qualifying electronic. If you’re buying second-hand and you’re unsure of whether your product passes the test, be sure to get the model number to verify its efficiency online.
Moderate holiday power use
We all get a little bit spend-happy around the holidays, but you may be surprised to find that presents aren’t your only extra holiday season expense.
Reduce your energy consumption by being aware of the appliances that will add zeros to your power bill. If you’ve got a second refrigerator or freezer to store turkey or other food for entertaining, only run it when absolutely necessary. It’s a better idea to make space in your main refrigerator, especially if it’ll be on for a few months.
Decorations are also worth thinking about, particularly for families that love to go all-out. Lights and large, powered decorations should be switched off during the day and overnight when they won’t be enjoyed.
Replace old appliances
If you’ve had the same appliances since the 80s or 90s, it could be time to make a change in the name of energy efficiency. As the world of technology has evolved, we’ve found ways to make appliances and gadgets operate more efficiently, which means your older electronics could be using up to 66% more power than newer models.
If you’re waiting for something to stop working before you buy something new, the good news is that with an AHS Home Warranty, you’ll be covered when something breaks or needs repairing. It’ll make replacing the old icebox with a new energy-efficient refrigerator much less financially stressful.
Don’t waste power
It’s not easy to regulate your energy use, especially if you have kids, but if energy efficiency is what you’re looking to achieve, it’s a crucial habit to form. You may have become used to leaving the TV on for a bit of background noise or lights on when you leave the room, but these energy habits will only serve to push your power bill up.
Be mindful of only using power when it’s necessary, and only using as much power as required to get the job done. For example, your fridge could be turned down a notch and still function perfectly well.
Cook smart
Some of our largest appliances live in the kitchen, so it makes sense to practice energy-smart habits when cooking. The oven and cooktop, in particular, are some of the appliances that use the most energy in your home.
When using the oven, it’s best to keep the door closed throughout cooking if possible. Heat escapes when you open the oven to check on your food, making your oven generate more power to bring it back up to temperature. When reheating, opt for the microwave rather than your oven to use less power.
Cooktops generally use less energy than ovens, but can still be a power-drain, especially when you’re slow-cooking. Crock-pots are an energy-efficient appliance that works great as an alternative to cooktop slow-cooking and oven roasting.
Final Thoughts
How far you go with making your home energy efficient is up to you. If replacing items isn’t within your means, you may begin with changing your energy usage habits rather than buying approved ENERGY STAR products. But when things break down and you’re stuck googling ‘cheapest energy-efficient washing machine’, the assurance provided by a home warranty plan that covers appliances can be a huge benefit.
Whether it’s the planet, your wallet, or both, by making some small changes in your home, you can get on the path to energy efficiency today.