As the world transitions to a more renewable energy production standard, homeowners are creating new ways to renovate their properties and save a little cash. With new technologies and methods to save energy, people are getting creative. There are a variety of energy-efficient and cost-effective methods to limit your negative impact on the environment and the price of powering your home’s devices, electronics, and more. Below are some great options to do your part to minimize climate change and create a comfortable, more efficient home.
Solar Panels
Of course a great way for you to create a viable renewable energy source for your home is to install solar panels. You can even have your roof built with them. Obviously the more panels you have and the better they are positioned will impact how much money you can save with them. If you live in a sunny place and can afford to invest in solar panels, you should. Not only is it possible to power your home with them, you may even be able to give energy back for a subsidy in the form of cash.
Smart Thermometer
Another method you can utilize to reduce the cost of your energy use and improve your carbon footprint is a smart thermometer. This device allows you to control the temperature of your home from anywhere. You can turn off the air or heat when the house is empty and alter the temperature when you’re about to get home. Not only will a smart thermometer help you reduce energy use, it will make your home more comfortable. If you keep your thermostat running hour-by-hour, day-in-day-out, your bills and your carbon footprint will be quite high.
Turn Down the Water Heater
Your water heater could also be higher than it should be. Most water heaters are set at 140 degrees, but this could be turned down. One way to determine whether or not the water heater is too high is to turn on the hot tap and if it is scalding you can likely turn down the temperature of the heater. Turning down the water heater will not just keep your impact on the environment low, the costs of your water will be a lot more affordable.
Transition to LED
The cost of your light also depends on your bulbs. If you’re still using traditional light bulbs, you are wasting a lot of money. LEDs are cheaper and last longer. They are more energy-efficient, saving you money on electricity. You won’t need to buy as many light bulbs and the LEDs you buy will last for years. It may not sound significant, but you’d be surprised about much money and energy you’ll save.
Purchase Sustainable Products
A lot of people complain about the cost of sustainable products, but this isn’t the right way to think about it. You pay for what you get. Sustainable products are typically reusable and can cut down on the bills for energy and water. For example, looking through the products at a zero waste store, you’ll find products like wool dryer balls and reusable cotton rounds. These products can lessen the amount you buy, dryer balls make your dryer more efficient. You can also look into bamboo paper products, bamboo toothbrushes, and plant-based utensils.
These are just some of the ways that you can keep your energy use and bills in check. The climate is changing and the environment is fragile. It is everyone’s responsibility to do their best to mitigate the amount of carbon in the atmosphere and how fast the climate is warming. While large corporations carry a lot of the blame, we all need to do our part.
One of the most important places to focus your efforts is to focus on the home. Not only will you be doing your part to decrease your negative impact on the environment and the changing climate, your bills will go down. It is integral to incentivize people to do their part to mitigate the negative effects of energy use. As technology changes and becomes more efficient, it will lessen our negative impact on the world around us. All we can do is our best.
