Our planet is a special one because it’s the only one that can support life. But evolution and technological progress over the years has put a strain on this wonderful ability of Earth. Being one of the dominant species on the planet, we as human beings have the responsibility to make it sustainable. And, energy efficiency plays a big part in that respect. On that note, given below are some of the practices you can pick up to contribute to a better future for our Earth.
Upgrade to Energy-Efficient Home Appliances:
Replacing old, inefficient appliances with energy-efficient ones is a crucial step towards sustainability. Luckily, you don’t need to search far and wide to find these products. They’re readily available online and pretty much in all home appliance stores.
Look for the ENERGY STAR label, which denotes that the appliance meets government energy efficiency standards. These energy-efficient appliances not only consume less electricity but also offer innovative features to help manage energy consumption. This results in lower electric bills and reduced greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to a greener future.
Switch to Smart Lighting options:
Making the most of natural light and ventilation can help reduce your need for artificial lighting. In suitable climatic conditions, keep windows and doors open to naturally illuminate your home.
Harvest sunlight by using daylighting devices such as skylights or light shelves to bring in natural light into the interiors of your home. These certainly do good as a sleek upgrade to your home’s look and feel too.
Replacing old-fashioned incandescent and fluorescent light bulbs with trendy and energy-efficient LED bulbs is another quick and effective way to reduce power consumption. LED bulbs have a significantly lesser energy consumption rating and last longer than traditional bulbs, resulting in lower electricity bills and maintenance costs.
Additionally, their lightweight and minimal form can enable a custom fit into your home interiors, which can handle different lighting needs or preferences. As a bonus, their longer lifespans mean that they end up in landfills/dump yards a lot later than their conventional counterparts.
Upgrade to Efficient Water consumption:
From time to time keep an eye out for aging and inefficient plumbing fixtures. Install low-flow faucets, shower heads and toilets to reduce water usage and costs.
You may also consider incorporating atomisers or aerators into your kitchen tap fixtures and wash basins. These work by mixing air with the water flow, creating a pressurized aerated stream using less water than usual, without compromising on the power of a standard flow.
This simple yet effective solution contributes to both water conservation and energy efficiency in your household.
Reduce Phantom Loads:
This is one of the most common yet ignored problems in electrical appliance usage. Phantom load is a condition where electronic devices continue to consume energy even though they may be on standby mode. To us it may be a simple charger that is plugged-in, yet not connected to a phone. But it may over time lead us to pay a higher power bill than necessary.
Unplug chargers, power strips, and electronic devices when they’re not in use to prevent this unnecessary usage of power. You may also consider using smart power strips that automatically cut off power to devices when they’re not in use to eliminate phantom loads.
Optimize Heating and Cooling Systems:
These are almost indispensable devices that affect our daily lives based on climatic and weather conditions. However, without regular maintenance or effective use of HVAC systems, there could be possible overrun of costs and safety concerns.
Schedule annual maintenance visits from specialized home maintenance services to clean or replace air filters, inspect and seal ducts to prevent air leaks etc., to ensure optimal performance of these equipment.
As an alternative, try using ceiling/pedestal fans and natural ventilation to supplement heating or cooling offered by your HVAC systems. Also try bringing in energy-efficient window treatments such as blinds, shades or curtains to minimize heat buildup in the summer and heat loss in the winter.
Practice Energy-Efficient Habits:
Daily lifestyle behaviors can have a significant impact on energy consumption both ways. If we are vigilant over this, minor changes in behavior can lead to significant energy savings over time.
Turn off lights and appliances when they’re not in use, try using cold water for laundry whenever possible and perhaps line dry clothes instead of using a conventional dryer. Practice efficient cooking habits such as using lids on pots and pans, choosing the right cookware and burner based on portions of your dishes and microwaving for small meals.
By incorporating these energy-efficient practices into your daily life, you can contribute to a positive impact on the environment, while saving unnecessary expenditure on energy costs. We’ll catch up with you shortly with another blog on more ideas for an energy efficient living and a sustainable future.
