8 Energy Saving Tips To Make Your Home More Budget Friendly

There are many reasons why homeowners should consider conserving energy and save electricity at home, from the clear environmental and financial benefits to potential improvements in mental and physical health. In fact, energy efficiency has become one of the common features that prospective homeowners look for when purchasing a home.

So what are the best ways to save on electricity? With a few simple changes to your daily habits and home improvements, you can significantly reduce your home electricity usage, keeping your utility bills low and contribute to the ongoing effort to curb the use of fossil fuel-based energy and keeping the earth cleaner.

1. Unplug your appliances when they're not in use

One common cause of energy waste around the home is “phantom” power. This results from electronics that are plugged in but not turned on, sucking as much as 8% of a home’s power for nothing. Hence, make it a habit to unplug your appliances when they are no longer in use. Not only you can avoid waste, you will also reduce your environmental impact and decrease your monthly electricity bill.

2. Strategically plan your kitchen layout.

When designing your kitchen, never place the stove and refrigerator side by side; this reduces their performance (a stove heats, while a fridge cools), which increases energy consumption. Besides the stove, your refrigerator should also 1) not be placed near direct sunlight exposure, 2) there should be adequate space above, behind and around it for air circulation and 3) never store hot food in it: although this will not - as many people believe - harm the appliance, the refrigerator will consume more energy in order to cool the food.

3. Replace your lights with energy-efficient light bulbs

Traditional incandescent light bulbs consume an excessive amount of electricity and must be replaced more often compared to energy-efficient alternatives such as halogen incandescent bulbs, compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), and light-emitting diode bulbs (LEDs). Although these types of bulbs are more expensive to purchase, it uses 25-80% less electricity and last three to 25 times longer than traditional bulbs while producing the same amount of light.

4. Paint your wall with light colours

Painting walls in light colours will instantly make your rooms look brighter thus reducing the need for artificial lighting. You will not only save on electricity bill but it will also help to improve the overall atmosphere in your home as well. You can also consider installing a light-coloured curtains to allow sunlight to enter and brighten the room without inviting too much heat.

Pro-tip: Use satin or semi-gloss paint on your walls. It reflects light better so you can use lower wattage bulbs.

5. Air dry your clothes instead of using a dryer

Rather than using a dryer, hang clothes outside and let them dry naturally or, if the weather is too humid, use an indoor hanging rack and let it dry overnight. If you live in an apartment or condo, talk to your designer to install a hanging rail on your laundry area. This will help you to save on the electricity bill which in turn, save you money in the long run.

6. Purchase "Energy Star" appliances

On average, appliances are responsible for roughly 13% of your total household energy use. When purchasing an appliance, you should pay attention to; 1) the initial purchase price and 2) the annual operating cost. Although energy-efficient appliances usually have higher purchase prices, their operating costs are 9-25% lower than conventional models.

When purchasing an energy-efficient appliance, you should look for appliances with the "Energy Star" label, a certified product that consumes less energy during use and when on standby compared to standard non-energy efficient models. These appliances offer significant savings in operation and are more environmentally friendly. The number of stars given (1-5) indicates how energy-efficient the appliance is (more stars mean less energy used).

7. Reduce your water heating expenses

Water heating is one of the major contributors to your total energy consumption. Besides purchasing an energy-efficient water heater, there are other methods of reducing your water heating expenses; 1) you can simply use less hot water, or 2) turn down the thermostat on your water heater.

8. Insulate your home to prevent heat intrusion

Sealing air leaks around your home is a great way to reduce your cooling expenses. The most common sources of air leaks into your home are vents, windows, and doors. To prevent these leaks, you should consider fully insulating your home by making sure that there are no cracks or openings between the wall and vent, window, or doorframe. Seal and cracks with materials like caulk and spray foam and you can block gaps around your windows and door frames with weather strips or draft guards.

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