8 Effective Ways to Lower Energy Use in the Home

When it comes to electricity use in the home, air conditioners are one of the most energy intensive. So to start saving electricity it makes sense to target the biggest energy consumers first by finding alternative methods of accomplishing the same task while using less electricity. Here are some tips to reduce energy use.

1. Use Portable Fans

A central heating cooling heats an entire home. If you’re only using one or two rooms a fan can often be all you need.

2. Use ceiling fans

While a ceiling fan will not actually cool the air, it can make your air conditioner work more efficiently by moving the cool air down into your living space while also providing an evaporative cooling effect.

3. Turn off lights

Using timers and motion detection can ensure that lights are only on when a room is occupied. Lights don’t just use electricity, they generate heat, making your cooling system work harder.

4. Air dry clothing instead of using a clothes dryer

Clothes dryers are one of the biggest energy consumers in the home. They also add heat and humidity to the air. Using an outdoor clothes line or rack to dry your clothes can add up to big savings over the course of a year.

5. Use the cold wash cycle

Many laundry detergent manufacturers make cold water detergents that provide effective cleaning without hot water.

6.Switch to LED lights

Replacing old incandescent bulbs with LEDs will not only save a lot of electricity, the long lasting bulbs will reduce the heat generated in the room and also reduce the inconvenience of having to replace the bulbs as frequently.

7. Upgrade to EnergyStar appliances

When it comes time to replace a furnace, air conditioner, refrigerator or other appliance, check the government’s EnergyStar rating label to see how much energy the appliance will consumer on average over the year. While more efficient units will often cost more initially, they will pay for themselves over time by consuming less energy.

8. Use a Smart Thermostat

The thermostat has come a long way since the set-it-and-forget-it designs of the past. Today’s thermostats save energy by learning your home’s routines and adapting the temperature to heat and cool only the spaces that are occupied.