3 easy ways to maintain an energy-efficient home
Is your home energy-efficient? This is one of the many questions being asked of homeowners in the twenty-first century. With the emergence of the Internet of Things, smart homes and Eco-builds, it has become more important than ever to try and keep your humble abode as energy-efficient as possible. This means that you can feel all warm and fuzzy inside having done your bit to save the environment and you will have saved money on your utility bills at the same time. Sounds like a perfect win-win situation doesn’t it? And it is if you get it right. Take a look at these three easy ways that can help you maintain an energy-efficient home.
Lighting
Energy saving light bulbs have been available to the masses for a couple of decades now. Whereas they were once a luxury of the more well-off folk amongst us, energy-efficient and long-lasting bulbs are now hugely accessible as they have reduced in price. By heading to your local DIY store and swapping all of your energy-wasting light bulbs with those that will emit the same amount of light but cost you less money doing so, you’ll be saving on your electricity bill.
If you ensure that everyone in your household sticks to a homemade energy contract of switching off lights when leaving a room, you’ll be saving even more of your pennies. If every household in the UK used energy-saving bulbs, the annual electricity consumption across the nation would reduce by 2%, the equivalent of a nuclear power station.
Heating
Although they sound like something out of Star Trek, smart thermostats are the latest piece of technology to help homeowners reduce their energy usage and save money on their utility bills. You could now set off from work on a cold winter’s evening and have your home intelligently switch on the heating to ensure a warm and toasty temperature for when you arrive. Even if you require domestic heating oil to fire up your heating system in the winter, you could lower your thermostat by just one degree to reduce carbon dioxide emissions that go onto create the dreaded greenhouse gases that harm the environment.
Water
It’s vital that you maintain the pipework within your home. Drip leaks can occur beneath your property, under your sink or in your bathroom and if you don’t carry out an annual check on your pipes, you may be in for a nasty surprise when the inconspicuous drip turns into a raging waterfall.
By running your bath a little less full, boiling your kettle with only the water you need and showering for shorter lengths of time, you’ll inevitably use less water. This means that you will be diverting less water away from rivers resulting in you doing your bit to preserve wildlife habitats. It really does pay to turn the tap off while you’re brushing your pearly whites.
Start making your home more energy-efficient today. Not only will you be protecting the environment and showing off your Eco-credentials but you’ll also be saving your household money in the process.
