Having a home is a wonderful investment. The enjoyment of owning a home is one of life’s greatest pleasures. However, owning a home comes with a great deal of responsibility. It can be costly to maintain all the important components that help a home function, especially when there is energy inefficiency.
Home Energy Cost Reduction
Through the proper care and maintenance of a home, major expenses are less likely to occur. This includes expenses for home energy usage. Of all the money spent out in a home annually, one of the largest expenses is energy usage. Fortunately, the cost’s for home energy use can be reduced by changing some of the ways home energy is used.
By following some important home maintenance and usage guidelines, homeowners can save hundreds of dollars a year. Whilst reducing usage is one of the main ways to bring down energy costs, replacing appliances and using better energy conservation fixtures can help.
What Appliances, Fixtures, and Tech Equipment Should be Replaced
It may seem convenient to keep older lighting fixtures, but using more energy efficient lighting can make a big difference. Older lighting fixtures and non-energy efficient light bulbs consume much more energy than newer lights. LED lights and some fluorescent energy saving lightbulbs can significantly reduce home lighting expenses.
Additionally, most older appliances use higher energy amounts than newer energy efficient ones. This includes refrigerators, stoves, microwaves, dishwashers, washing machines, and dryers. This is because the technology for appliances has significantly improved in the last decade. With the new advancements in technology that are available today, people can purchase newer appliances that offer the same usage capabilities as older ones without using as much energy.
The same applies to technology. Computers, stereos, and other tech gear all have efficiency ratings as well. Understanding the ratings and cost savings for certain tech gadgets can help homeowners reduce their tech energy consumption by buying the brands and items with higher energy efficiency ratings.
In-Home Air Temperature Control
Another big energy loss comes from not properly protecting in-home air temperature. Windows with broken seals, doors that have air pockets and a lack of home insulation can all prove to be problematic. Failure to keep the temperature inside the home protected from the outside elements can be very costly for a homeowner.
In the peak of summer, keeping the shades or curtains drawn can help reduce excess air conditioning costs. For larger windows, the use of temporary window tinting can also be a big help in loss of cooling energy.
When it comes to home cooling, energy costs can be reduced with proper HVAC care. In fact, one of the best ways to reduce energy costs is having an HVAC system cleaned and maintained on an annual basis with Brisbane Air Conditioning services.
HVAC systems often get clogged up with dust particles. This can significantly reduce their energy efficiency. In addition, if any of the system parts start to fail such as the thermostat, it can make the system run poorly and inefficiently.
Homeowners who have poorly operating air conditioning units will often try to overcompensate by lowering the temperature to get the home cooler. This causes the homeowner to have higher usage expenses and does not fix the underlying issues. All of these problems can be remedied before they become problematic with the use of Brisbane Air Conditioning Services.
Creating a Plan to Reduce Energy Consumption at Home
Reducing home energy costs takes more than a bit of luck. It requires an understanding of energy efficiency and implementing a sound energy reduction plan. By building a comprehensive energy reduction plan, homeowners create the best way to save on energy expenses.
Steps to increase home energy efficiency include:
- Replacement of Old Appliances
- Buy Energy Efficient Technology
- Have Annual Maintenance on HVAC System with Brisbane Air Conditioning Services
- Install Energy Efficient Windows
- Replace Older Lighting with Energy Efficient Lighting
- Keep Shades, and Curtains Drawn in High Heat or Install Temporary Window Tinting
- Reduce Energy Consumption when Possible
- Plant Shade Bearing Trees
Whilst it may seem that the expense involved in buying new items to reduce energy costs is quite high, the investment pays off rather quickly. Expenses for many of these improvements will be returned in energy expense savings within a few short years.
Energy saving ratings can be found on appliances, windows, doors, and tech equipment. It is always a smart decision to check online through consumer reviews or manufacturing details what the energy rating is for the item being purchased. Reducing energy usage takes a conscious effort throughout the home.
