It’s not surprising that more and more people today are making their respective homes energy-efficient. Not only are we able to significantly reduce our carbon footprint this way, but it also helps us cut costs on perpetually rising energy bills. Small as this may seem to some, you’ll be amazed at how much of an effect it can have on both the environment and your budget. To this end, here are a few practical ways to make your home much more energy-efficient.
- Use structural insulated panels
When compared to more conventional materials for construction, structural insulated panels or sips for short, are much more energy-efficient. They’re lightweight, easy to assemble and best of all, their use essentially means having to deal with fewer air leakages. By reducing, if not mitigating, the number of draughts in the home, you’re less likely to make use of your heating system, which leads to fewer carbon emissions, which is good for the environment and minimising expenditure on energy bills.
- Have solar panels installed
Another useful and practical way to have an eco-friendly home and keep the monthly electricity bills from spiralling out of control is by using solar panels. The sun has always been one of the best renewable forms of energy and technology today has allowed us to harness its power more so than we ever have in the past. While there may be a few factors to consider carefully before having solar panels installed, it is well worth the investment.
- Invest in light-emitting diodes
A lot of us often overlook our lighting system, but not many people realise exactly how much energy they use. By switching over to the much more energy-efficient light-emitting diodes or LEDs, not only will the home be brighter since they reflect much more than other types of lights but expect to lower your electricity bills considerably. They’re also much more durable and should last longer than other alternatives too.
- Unplug electronic devices when not in use
It’s a general rule of thumb to make sure that electronic devices that are not in use are unplugged. Not only is it a safety hazard but energy still flows even if you switch off the devices, which means that you’ll still see it reflected in your energy bills. By making it a routine to keep unused devices unplugged, you’ll be saving yourself money and keeping your home a lot safer.
When limited resources are slowly dwindling, and costs keep on rising, it pays to have a home that is energy-efficient. Not only will you be doing your part for the environment, but you’ll also benefit from the amount of money you can potentially save in the process too. Best of all, having an energy-efficient home won’t cost you a small fortune. It should be entirely possible to achieve even when working with a tight or modest budget.
