A question that many people are concerned about is: how to save energy at home.You can do this in different ways:
- Make reasonable use of natural lighting and insulate the house;
- Purchase new appliances and modern technological equipment;
- Ditch some household appliances and do manual work.
Why save energy?
If saving on your energy bill isn't a strong incentive for you, look at the issue from another perspective.Electricity is produced by thermal power plants, which emit many harmful substances into the atmosphere every day by burning natural fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas.Environmental pollution leads to global warming, which in turn triggers natural disasters.Efficient use of electricity will help protect nature.If everyone consciously addresses environmental issues, we can save the planet for our children.We draw your attention to the best ways to effectively save energy in your home.
Home Lighting - Ways to Save Energy
The cost of lighting with incandescent lamps accounts for approximately one-third of all electricity costs.
How to use natural lighting to reduce energy consumption
Try to make the most of natural light during the day: open curtains and raise blinds.Light-colored sheer curtains will make the house brighter and more comfortable.Natural light won't damage your vision and can help you cope with bad emotions, so let it come into your home.Make the most of your daytime hours.Postpone some tasks from evening to morning to avoid artificial lighting.
Place sofas and desks near windows.This allows you to read without an additional light source.You can equip your glass balcony with a relaxation area.Try to avoid windows being obscured by tall indoor plants.There should also be no tree branches outside the window.
If you are renovating or building a home, plan ahead for the placement of large windows, light guides and glass roofs.Choose the right door for your venue.For example, glass inserts in doors can let light into dark hallways.
How to effectively save energy by zoning rooms
Divide the space into areas with different lighting levels.Use various light sources in the apartment: chandeliers, table lamps, wall lamps, night lights.Arrange them according to your lighting needs.For example, the hall can accommodate:
- Large chandelier with multiple bulbs in which the light is regulated by a two-button switch;
- floor lamp near reading chair;
- Desktop lamp with daylight source.
Adding light to the desired area is more effective than turning on bright general lighting.Just don't replace your main lighting with additional light sources, as this can damage your vision.There should be no darkness in the room; dim light can have a negative impact on your health: causing migraines and depression.Let’s look at how you can save electricity and keep your home bright by choosing the right light bulbs.
What bulbs to use for lighting can reduce energy costs
If you use regular incandescent bulbs, see where in your apartment you can replace them with less powerful incandescent bulbs.Better yet, replace this type of bulb with a more modern one.
Energy-saving lamps consume several times less power than previous lamps.They are more expensive but last longer.The investment will pay off within a year.
Types of energy-saving light bulbs:
- Mercury bulb.They consume 4 times less energy than incandescent bulbs.The only drawback is that used lamps must be disposed of properly.
- LED light bulbs.They have recently appeared on the market, but have already proven themselves reliable and economical.They last longer than mercury lamps and contain no harmful substances.Disadvantages of these lights include their high cost.
How to break the bad habit of not turning off the lights
The easiest way to avoid wasting electricity is to leave the lights on when you leave a room.The habit of leaving the power off often results in light bulbs remaining on even when people go to work.You can solve this problem by putting a reminder note on your front door.Inscriptions can read: "Before you leave, turn off the lights!", "Check the lights, water, iron, gas!" It would be very convenient if there is a switch near the door that can be used to turn off the power to all light bulbs in the house.
How to use new technology to save money on home lighting
- Motion sensors turn on lights when someone appears;
- The light sensor does not allow artificial lighting to be turned on during the day;
- A switch with a timer that turns the bulb on for a certain amount of time;
- A program that turns power on in zones based on light levels and time of day.
- The remote control allows you to turn off the lights from anywhere in the room.
- The brightness of the lighting can be adjusted by turning the switch.
- A light bulb that stores electrical energy during the day.
The house has electricity and heating.How to reduce energy consumption?
With the arrival of cold weather, people are increasingly using electric heaters.Insulating your home before turning on your central heating system will help keep it at a comfortable temperature without the need for appliances.
Start insulating your room by replacing your old windows with modern plastic structures with double-glazed windows.If this is not possible, use installation tape to insulate door and window openings.Covering your windows in the winter eliminates heat loss and drafts.
Owners of private houses should pay attention to good insulation of exterior walls and roofs.If the house is well insulated, this will help keep the room warm during the cold season.In the hot summer, such a house will be very cool without turning on the air conditioner.Therefore, home insulation helps save energy during winter and summer.
Maintain optimal temperature in the room.It should not exceed 21 degrees.Do not turn on the heater unless the temperature is below this mark.This way, the air in the room won't dry out, making ARVI less painful.If you feel uncomfortable in the room at these temperatures, it is best to dress warmly.
How to save energy in your apartment by using appliances
First, let’s figure out which appliances consume the most energy.These figures are very approximate, but they allow you to find out which devices contribute the most to your monthly electricity usage.
| equipment | Running time, hours/day | kilowatt hours per day |
|---|---|---|
| television | 3 | 0.5 |
| computer | 12 | 4 |
| iron | 2 | 1 |
| Micro-wave oven | 1 | 1 |
| Multifunctional pot, steamer | 6 | 1 |
| hood | 8 | 1 |
| oil heater | 12 | 6 |
| Heater | 2 | 5 |
| hair dryer | 1 | 0.5 |
| electric stove | 4 | 3 |
| Water heater 60-70 liters | 1 | 1 |
| dishwasher | 1 | 2 |
| washing machine | 2 | 2 |
| refrigerator | twenty four | 1 |
| Freezer | twenty four | 1.2 |
| electric kettle | 1 | 1 |
| Incandescent lamp, 100W | 8 | 0.8 |
Unplug devices not in use
Plugging electrical appliances into sockets wastes electricity.The device in standby mode continues to use it.When leaving home, unplug:
- kettle;
- coffee machine;
- television;
- computer;
- audio speakers;
- mobile phone charger;
- hair dryer;
- Food processors and other appliances.
This way, you not only save energy but also protect your equipment from power surges and short circuits that can lead to fires.Your efforts will be rewarded at the end of the month with significant savings.
Replace old equipment with new models with high energy saving levels
Previously, manufacturers did not set themselves the goal of producing energy-efficient home appliances.Today, things have changed dramatically.Electrical appliance energy consumption continues to decline.Devices that consume the least amount of power are the best in their class.They're not cheap either, but the money invested in them will pay off in a few years.Therefore, it makes sense for large home appliances to be updated.First, it is recommended to replace the refrigerator and washing machine.To maximize energy savings, choose Class A equipment whenever possible.
Use appliances wisely
- A few simple rules will help lower your energy bills.
- Fill the dishwasher instead of washing dishes in small batches.
- Make sure the refrigerator door is closed tightly and do not leave it open for long periods of time.
- When cooking in an electric oven, do not open the oven door frequently to avoid reducing the heat in the oven.Additional power is required to restore the previous temperature.
- Set aside a day to do laundry.This way, you can fill up your washing machine and save money by not having to do laundry every day.
- If you only need a cup of boiling water, do not heat a full electric kettle.
Do not use electrical appliances unless necessary
Nowadays, advertising compels people to buy many home appliances.Some of them really do make homework easier, and some of them we don't actually need at all.You can prepare dinner for two every day without the help of a food processor.But it will come in handy when you're preparing for winter.
You can use a thermos instead of a yogurt maker.It also works well at keeping the milk at a constant temperature.Instead of an electric air freshener, it can be helpful to use scented oils or simply increase room ventilation.
Instead of using an electric clothes dryer, you can hang your laundry on the balcony.
If there is a gas stove at home, it is best to replace the electric kettle with an ordinary one.If you're afraid of forgetting to turn it off, buy a kettle with a whistle.
There are many such examples.After all, our parents used to do housework without the help of sophisticated equipment.Think about what equipment you can do without.
How to save electricity when boiling water
The boiler not only heats the water but also keeps the water temperature at the same level throughout the day.If you don't control your hot water consumption, you'll end up paying a lot of money for your heating bill at the end of the month.
Ways to save hot water:
- Do not set the boiler temperature too high, as this will reduce the energy used to boil water during the day.
- The good thermal insulation properties of the boiler help keep the water hot for a long time without the need for additional heating.
- If you take a shower instead of a bath, you can reduce water consumption by three times.Provided your shower lasts no longer than 20 minutes.
- It is more economical to wash the dishes once a day.But if you don't like the mess, you can wash the dishes in a bowl of hot water and then rinse them with cold water.
Looking for alternative energy sources
In private homes, solar panels can be used as an alternative energy source.When installing, the climate of the area and the number of sunny days per year need to be taken into consideration.In the southern part of the country, solar panels have been successfully used on large houses.Electricity stored in batteries connected to solar panels can be used to light the house and heat water.
in conclusion
Energy-saving methods don’t have to be troublesome.As you can see, there are many ways to avoid wasting electricity.Efficient use of electricity does not limit your freedom, as you can care for nature and its resources while benefiting from the fruits of progress.As a bonus for reducing energy consumption, you'll get a significant reduction in your utility bills at the end of the month.