How to Manage Energy Consumption in Your Home
Although our household appliances consume quite a lot of energy in order to function, some can take up a little extra in order to perform better; like the air-conditioning on a hot summer day. That probably is an indicator that the appliance has lived up to its full potential and it’s time for an upgrade.
Other than electronic appliances, it is also our habits that affect energy consumption patterns. Whether we leave the bathroom lights on, how much air-conditioning we use, if we have an extra freezer in the garage – things like that.
Managing energy consumption in your home isn’t such a difficult task. There are many ways that can be done, some simple and some may require professional assistance. Here’s how you can manage and reduce energy consumption for your household.
Insulation
It is almost important for households in the US to have insulation in their homes. In easier words, it helps keep your home cool in the summer and warm in the winter, making it a cozier environment for you to be in. It also takes the load off from your air-conditioners and thermostats from consuming too much energy to keep the place cool (or warm depending on the weather).
Additional benefits of insulating the walls of your home include noise reduction, which means no more annoying traffic sounds from outside, or the neighbor’s dog barking and waking up your child – not even the sound of the television in the next room. It keeps the house calm.
Tree Planting
We almost never think about how nature can benefit us with our basic needs. Planting trees in your yard can help tremendously, especially if it helps bring shade to different spots in the yard or even near your home windows.
Having a sunlit room is always great for aesthetics but unfortunately, it makes a room warmer. It’s great during winter when you could use a bit of the sun for natural warmth. However, it is almost never good in the summer, and closing the curtain ruins the natural aesthetic. So plant trees near windows and doors, you’ll see the difference.
Smart Home Devices
One easier way rather than undergoing massive home renovations is by investing in smart devices for your home. Smart home devices can be installed in any standard household – it is to make your home smart, not for technologically fancy homes. Here are some devices you should consider installing in your homes, and not only does it save up on energy, but you also save money with reduced utility bills over time. Now that’s a win-win situation is it not?
- Smart Lights
Smart lights are the best for those people that always forget to turn the lights off. Kidding! They are a little heavy on the pocket at first but that’s why you call it an investment. Smart lights are a great addition to any household really; they can be controlled wirelessly through mobile applications meaning you can access them from literally anywhere – even from another city. Some feature motion detection too so if it senses zero movement the lights can turn off themselves just as they would switch on automatically when someone walks by.
- Smart Thermostat
Swap your standard thermostat with a smart one, you’ll thank us. Smart thermostats can connect to the home Wi-Fi and can function wirelessly while being accessible through mobile applications specifically designed for them. So similar to smart lighting, whether you’re within the neighborhood or in another city, have complete control of your home thermostat. This allows you to turn it off while you’re on your way to work, in case you forgot – meaning it leaves absolutely no room for excuses in wasting energy.
Replacing old appliances can also be a good alternative to avoid consuming excessive energy and getting lower bills every month instead. But of course only in the case where your appliance has run its 4 to 5-year lifespan. You can find all these services and more, along with plenty of other Smart Home devices at any of the First Energy Electric subsidiaries in your state.
