‘Gee, I wish I knew how to spend more money on my power bill!’ said no one, ever. Yes, everyone I know is always trying to find ways to save themselves money in the home, whether it’s by riding to work or growing their own veggies. As we have grown as a nation to become more energy efficient, we have also found ways to cut money from our power bills and help the environment. I consider that a win-win situation, don’t you? Making good choices when it comes to powering your home is important, both for the fact that a low power bill is a good power bill, and for the fact that helping the planet instead of polluting it is a great thing both now and in the future. It would be great to be able to pop a huge barrage of solar panels onto your roof and to save money that way, but the truth is that solar is expensive, and not an option for everyone. Short of spending a small fortune on some solar for your roof, let’s take a look at a couple of other more innovative ways to reduce your long term energy consumption for the better.
Insulate your home
You’ve probably been hearing about the benefits of insulation for a long time now, but the truth of it is that insulation is hands-down one of the best ways to get more bang for your buck in terms of heating and cooling. There’s nothing better than coming into your home after a freezing night out in town to a warm and snug home, without even having to turn the heater on. Insulation works in two ways: it traps heat in the home when it’s cool, and keeps your home cooler when it’s warm by allowing the hot air to escape. I can always tell when friends of mine don’t have insulation. How? They’re always asking to come to my house for dinner to social gatherings as they’re freezing/boiling in their home, depending on the weather. Talk to your local insulation provider about the options available to you, and find out if it’s possible to get a free quote for a couple of them. Competitive rates are always a good thing!
Install a custom skylight in your bathroom or lounge
Save yourself plenty of money on your lighting bills by installing a skylight in your lounge or bathroom. I mean, any room that is lacking in natural light (think of that room that you always have to turn the light on in, regardless of the time of day) will benefit from the installation of a skylight. The skylight adds a beautiful touch to any home, and taking the time to choose a custom skylight will really add value, style and beauty to any room in your home. You can search on Pinterest for design inspiration and have a look at home and style magazines for options for your home.
Turn off appliances
When you leave the home, you need to make sure that you’re turning the appliances you have on, off at the wall. This means televisions, DVD players, speakers, game consoles and PCs, among others. The difference isn’t going to be huge at first, but the amount that you’re going to save in the long run will add up in time. Turning things off at the wall is a great way to know that you’re definitely not using the power when you don’t need to.
Use lamps or spotlighting
Save on overhead lighting and only use the kind of lighting that you need for the time you’re using it. A nice lamp with an energy efficient bulb will not only be energy efficient but will add a nice mood to the room.
Good luck with your energy efficiency quest!
Article Submitted By Community writer
