(Originally published for ZeroMe Sustainability APP)
The evidence is clear; to stave off irreparable climate change, we must act now and start at home. We’ve heard these words in varying terms and contexts, with each year being THE year we need to make significant lifestyle changes.
While making habit changes may seem inconvenient and daunting, the truth is the most accessible place to start is your house. Changes in home energy use are generally done on a one-time or semi-annual basis and have an autopilot effect after that.
Change Five Lights
The shift to a more conscious living style can start at the light switch. Choosing an eco-friendly lightbulb will result in potentially 75% less heat creation, use less energy, and need to be changed less frequently.
Start with your five most used lighting sources and switch to an incandescent, LED, or compact fluorescent lightbulb. A study from the Environmental Protection Agency found that by replacing only one light bulb in every house in the U.S. with an LED bulb, greenhouse gas emissions would be reduced by 9 billion pounds, making a light switch a heavy positive impact.
Get Your Appliances Compliant
Two of the most energy-consuming appliances are refrigerators and dryers. While using our appliances to their max capacity is also a sustainable measure, their outdated energy use might be undoing that goodwill. Switching to more energy-efficient models can cut their consumption by up to half.
Unplug
The average American home has 75 electrical outlets making room for plenty of gadgets, lights, and appliances. Unfortunately, plugged-in items can continue sucking from the power grid in minute amounts that add up even when not in use. This tiny draw of electricity from each item adds up to a cumulative impact on natural resources and carbon emissions to power each household.
Temperature Control The Smart Way
As global temperatures fluctuate, so do the heating and cooling controls on the thermostat. A programmable smart thermostat can do the work for you to keep your house at a comfortable temperature that doesn’t unnecessarily burden the power grid.
In addition, replacing windows and doors with ones that are double-glazed can help keep the hard work of your thermostat inside and the colder or hotter temperatures out.
Lastly, seal up the gaps! Sealing gaps, cracks, and leaks that work against your efforts to keep your home cool or warm will keep your home more efficient and can also save you up to 10% on your electrical bills.
Comments