Five Simple Ways to Make Your Home More Energy-Efficient

One of the hot-button topics as of late has been energy conservation and eco-consciousness. For years, homeowners and business owners alike have sought to reduce their carbon footprints, produce less waste, use less electricity and lower emissions. This initiative has gained speed recently as issues such as global warming, renewable energy and sustainability have taken center stage. Thankfully, there are simple and easy ways to make your home more energy-efficient. If you’re not quite ready to go off the grid and affix solar panels to your roof, start with these baby steps and work your way up from there.

1. Adjust your thermostat.

Your home has to work extra hard to pump cold air conditioning into your rooms in the dead of summer. As such, consider if you could be comfortable notching that dial up one degree and easing the strain. Likewise, lower it just a little in the winter to reduce the costs and power it takes to heat your home. Are you planning to be out of the house for a few days, maybe on vacation? Adjust it more significantly then, as no one will be home to tell the difference. You’ll appreciate the savings on your next electric bill and your home will be using far less energy. Even if you’re just spending the entire day at the office but plan to come home later that evening, adjust it by a few degrees and turn it back to your preferred settings when you arrive. Or, invest in a smart thermostat that can take care of the changes for you!

2. Start composting.

At first, the concept might sound strange, but saving your food scraps and using them as a natural fertilizer is actually a great way to cut down on waste and help the Earth in the process. The process is simple. Over time, the waste breaks down into organic matter that plants adore. Keep it in a container until you have enough to distribute and over time, you’ll notice that you’re throwing away far less valuable nutrients and instead, returning them to the ground. You’ll also save money on expensive organic fertilizer, making it a definite win-win.

3. Consider replacing your doors and windows.

Did you know that your home could be losing heat without you even knowing it? It’s true! Even the tiniest hairline crack along your window frame or door frame could be enough for tons of valuable heat or AC to seep out. As such, if you live in an older home, consider replacing your existing door or window hardware with newer, more energy-efficient home solutions designed to help your home stay as comfortable as possible. Interested in researching your options? You can see more here and start designing your simple upgrade as soon as possible.

4. Turn off the water when not in use.

You’ve heard it said a thousand times, but how many of us leave the water on while we’re brushing our teeth? Or, how many linger in the shower a little longer than necessary or wash dishes by hand with the spigot on full blast the entire time? These are easy steps to overlook and simply becoming more water-conscious can be a great first step toward conserving both money and energy in your home. Everything from running your washing machine at half-capacity to leaving your garden hose on for too long can quickly add up, so monitor your water use and make adjustments where you can.

5. Unplug your chargers.

There’s an industry term for your chargers that are just sitting there, plugged into your wall outlets, without being connected to anything on the other end. They’re called energy vampires and for good reason. Simply put, they’re simply extracting valuable power from your home without giving you anything in return. This one is arguably our easiest step. Once your electronic devices are fully charged, simply unplug the charger from the wall and store it somewhere easily accessible for when you need it again. Common culprits include your cell phone and battery chargers, so pay close attention to their usage.

At the end of the day, making your home more energy-efficient doesn’t have to mean completely overhauling the way your family lives. You don’t have to make drastic measures to see a remarkable difference in your power consumption, carbon emissions, waste creation and more. So start small and start somewhere, and you’ll be reaping the benefits in no time. The Earth will be, too!