Every household should strive for financial efficiency, considering how expensive bills are now, and one impactful avenue often overlooked is energy consumption. While swapping incandescent bulbs for LEDs is a known energy-saving hack, true efficiency is a holistic venture that extends beyond just light fixtures. Let’s embark on a journey to unveil practical and often disregarded strategies, shedding light on how considering the role of well-insulated doors and windows can illuminate your path to substantial energy and cost savings.
Understanding the Dynamics of Energy Efficiency
Efficiency goes hand in hand with awareness. Beyond the illumination provided by energy-efficient bulbs, scrutinising the dynamics of your home’s energy consumption can reveal surprising revelations. Unquestionably, lighting contributes, but equally important are the structural elements that regulate your home’s climate.
Weather Stripping Matters
Even the most energy-efficient doors and windows can’t perform optimally if there are gaps allowing drafts. Weatherstripping emerges as a cost-effective solution to seal these often overlooked crevices. A small investment in quality weather stripping enhances the longevity of your doors and windows and results in substantial energy savings.
Windows and Doors to Keep Warm
While we often view windows and doors as mere architectural elements, they wield profound influence over your home’s energy dynamics. Windows with poor seals, for example, will create drafts in your home. New windows, especially with double or triple glazing, will help you save money – statistics show triple-glazed windows can save up to 50% on energy bills.
Doors work similarly – well-fitted internal doors keep rooms warm and well-insulated. Visit websites like doorways.co.uk for good examples. It’s these inexpensive changes to make to your home that can save you money on expensive energy bills in the long run.
Energy-Saving Habits for Your Home
Every home should feel like an eco oasis, and it can be done by saving energy. Here’s how it can be done.
It’s not only about what you can add to your home. It’s about what you can do when you’re in it. Consider these practical tips to make your home more energy-conscious:
Mindful Thermostat Control
A smart home thermostat by Nest
Setting your thermostat to lower temperatures during winter and keeping it on constantly is more eco-friendly than turning it on and off. Experts recommend keeping it between 16 and 17 degrees. Programmable thermostats can automate this process.
Lighting Choices Matter
Opt for energy-efficient LED bulbs – you won’t notice a difference between them and incandescent bulbs. They last longer and consume significantly less energy.
Unplug Unused Devices
Electronics in standby mode still draw power – standby power is estimated to account for up to 40% of a device’s total power usage. Unplug chargers and devices when not in use to prevent unnecessary energy consumption.
Upgrade to Energy-Efficient Appliances
Newer appliances are more energy-efficient focused – you’ll notice the energy rating stickers on most if not all, new appliances. They may have a higher upfront cost but lead to long-term savings and reduced energy consumption.
For a more energy-conscious lifestyle, broaden your focus beyond the conventional tips. There are tons of ways that we can be more energy-conscious in the home. In 2024, sustainability and climate change will be a big topic as the earth’s temperature rises each year.
Author: Karin Kloosterman
Karin Kloosterman is an award-winning journalist and publisher that founded Green Prophet to unite a prosperous Middle East. She shows through her work that positive, inspiring dialogue creates action that impacts people, business and planet. She has published in thought-leading newspapers and magazines globally, owns an IoT tech chip patent, and is part of teams that build world-changing products to make agriculture and our planet more sustainable. Reach out directly to [email protected]
