In recent years, energy efficiency has become a booming home trend for a variety of reasons. While not everyone is ready to join the 1.3 million solar installations in the United States, many homeowners are now choosing to live more eco-conscious lifestyles, with others simply looking to cut down on regular utility bills. Whatever your motivation is, saving energy at home doesn’t have to be complicated. Here are a few ideas big and small to help you get started on saving energy around the house.
Make Easy Swaps For Savings
Not all energy savings will require a change in your daily routine or even any differences you’ll notice in your house. For example, try swapping out your traditional incandescent light bulbs to LED bulbs. Today’s LED bulbs can be six to seven times more energy efficient than conventional incandescent lights and cut energy use by more than 80%. While previously LED bulbs came with a hefty price tag, today’s bulbs are only a small bit more expensive than traditional bulbs. With how infrequently you’ll have to change your light bulbs and how much less electricity they use, you’re sure to see the savings rolling in shortly.
Watch Out For Drafty Windows
Have you noticed that your home is always a bit too cold or a bit too warm, depending on the season? Maybe there’s a particular room that you have to use a space heater for because it just always is a bit chilly. It’s possible that the problem isn’t in your heating system, but in your windows. If your windows are a bit older or slightly drafty, you could be wasting energy. Heated or cooled air can escape more easily through these areas, particularly when your windows are older. Newer, energy-efficient types of windows can save an average 15% on your energy bill, so you may want to get them replaced before the coldest months of the year hit. If you can’t afford new windows right now, at least try to invest in some new curtains to minimize heat loss.
Patch Up Leaky Plumbing
If you think that one minor leak in your bathroom sink isn’t a big deal, think again. While this might not always impact your electricity bill, you’re probably wasting gallons of water through that one small leak alone. In fact, according to Plumbing Manufacturers International, 13.7% of water use is the result of leaks. That’s an extra 13.7% that could be added onto your water bill each month. Instead, contact a plumber as soon as you notice a leak. This will help you save both money and water in the future, instead of wasting water in ways you aren’t even noticing.
Look For Landscaping Ideas
You’ve taken steps to go green inside of your home, but have you considered outdoor spaces? Just because your grass is looking greener doesn’t mean it’s actually doing anything to improve your home’s efficiency. Grass is typically the go-to choice for lawns in America; front and back lawns in the U.S. collectively contain almost 21 million acres of grass. However, there are actually plenty of other green ground-cover options for your lawn that will make better use of water and provide more resources to your local pollinators and ecosystem. People have begun to use everything from clover to wildflowers in their lawns – just make sure your neighborhood allows you to make the switch before you start planting.
There are plenty of ways you can go green at home to simultaneously save money and the environment. Use these as a few first steps to get you thinking about what more you can do at home to go and stay green.