Saving energy reduces our utility bills as well as saves our environment from damage. The simplest way by which we can save money as well as our nature is developing some energy saving habits. These habits may appear small but show noticeable results in long run.
Here are 4 simple and no-cost habits which we should learn and cultivate for our own long term benefits :
- Home cooling Habit: Our air conditioners consume most energy and account for large numbers on the utility bills. In order to reduce their energy consumption and in turn our bills we must learn to use this appliance smartly.
- Firstly keep the doors/ windows and other openings closed for faster room cooling. If the cold air does not leak from the room the room remains cool for a longer time.
- Secondly install time switch with the AC for smart cooling. To know more on time switch refer to article ” 6 really easy steps to save energy at home “.
- Thirdly buy energy efficient star AC to reduce energy consumption.
- Appliances and electronics running Habit:
- Do not forget to unplug your televisions, music system, microwaves etc. when not in use. These devices consume electricity even in the standby mode.
- Do not forget to switch off the lights and fans when you don’t need them. Make a habit to switch off the bulbs and fan when you are the last one to leave the room.
- Go for energy saving appliances for long term benefits.
- Water Habit: Make it a habit not to waste water rather conserve it. This will definitely reduce your monthly water bills. Below are few water conservation tips:
- Do not leave the tap running when you are brushing teeth (very common habit) or applying soap on your face before washing it.
- Do not use your bathroom flush as a waste basket. Every time you flush your cigarette bud or a paper napkin or any other small trash, it wastes liters of water.
- Turn off the shower when applying soap and turn it on again to rinse. This could save lots of water from being wasted.
- Rinse the fruits and veggies in a pan of clean water rather than cleaning them under running tap.
- Cooking Habit: Below guidelines of smart cooking. Make them your habit and observe the changes in you bills:
- Cover the food while cooking. This way food will be cooked faster saving lots of fuel.
- While cooking keep in mind to match the size of cooking dish with the size of stove ring. If the size of pan is large and the size of burner small, then more will be the cooking time which mean more fuel consumption.
- Keep all the cooking ingredients like chopped veggies, spices, cooking aids etc. ready before you start cooking. Most of us don’t notice that we keep the pans on stove on low heat and then start collecting cooking materials. This wastes lot of LPG/fuel.
- Do not put the cold food items straightaway from refrigerator into the pan for cooking. First let the temperature of chilled food item come down to room temperature and then cook them.
For more information on energy saving visit Ideas by Mr.Right
All the ideas that are mentioned above are neither strange to us nor difficult to follow. Rather they are well known tips that are very easy to adopt. These energy saving habits can surely improve our financials and give us a liberty to enhance the quality of life. So why not start today!
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The tip to keep the doors and windows closed when running your AC is great – thanks for mentioning this. If you want better results and are ready to invest more in energy efficiency, consider installing windows with Low-E glass. These windows have a special coating that helps keep heat inside during winter and prevent heat from entering during summer.
Many people confuse tinted windows with Low-E glass coatings, but tinted windows only block light, they don’t reduce heat transfer like Low-E glass.
Also, I want to suggest considering switching to solar energy. It is a great way to make your home more energy-efficient and reduce energy bills.
Even though the upfront cost of installing solar panels can be a major barrier to transitioning to solar energy, homeowners and businesses have access to solar Incentives such as solar tax credits that significantly reduce installation expenses.
Also, consider upgrading to a high-SEER air conditioner. It brings energy efficiency, lower utility bills, and reduced carbon footprint. Before buying an AC, please remember to check new efficiency standards for HVAC systems in 2023 — these changes are legally effective from January 1 this year.
Also, remember to change air conditioner filters regularly for improved AC system efficiency. How often you should do that depends on many factors (filter type, pets, allergies, outdoor air quality). But here are the things you need to know that signal your filter needs changing: different color of the filter, high energy bills, low airflow, allergy symptoms.
Replacing air filters is a crucial thing. However, it is only one part of air conditioner maintenance. You should also remember to clean the vents and ducts and clear the outer part of your unit.
Let me add one more thing related to AC system efficiency. If you have a central air conditioning system, remember to inspect your ductwork for leaks and eliminate them when needed. Leaky ducts can cause a decline of up to 40% in your home’s heating and cooling efficiency.
One more thing to consider in order to reduce energy consumption is letting your air conditioner run when you leave your house in the morning. It may seem counterintuitive, however, by setting your air conditioner at a sensible 72 degrees before you leave for the day, you will be able to come home to a comfortable house without having to crank the AC as low as it goes as soon as you step through the door.
To cut down on your energy bills, also remember to perform regular maintenance on your air conditioning system. The service site Angi states that performing a tune-up on your AC unit can save you up to 15% on your power bill each month.
These are quite interesting and useful tips on how you can save on bills and electricity. When we were choosing a supplier, we read various reviews on the Internet and I saw duke energy reviews where many people wrote about the quality of electricity and gas supply services. I liked it and decided to use their electricity supply services as we liked their interaction with customers and energy prices.