If you’re trying to figure out ways to become eco-friendlier and energy-efficient at home, good for you! Becoming eco-friendly is not only good for you and your energy bill but for the world that we live in. Here are some tips from the pros at Roman Electric to help you start your journey to being more environmentally friendly!
1. Check for Leaks
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, household water leaks can lead to 10,000 gallons of water lost per year—that’s a lot of water going to waste. Most of the time these leaks are easy to point out and fix. So if you want to start being more environmentally friendly, start of by dusting off your toolbox and get to work troubleshooting these leaks. They are most commonly found in your toilet, faucet, showerhead and dishwasher.
2. Change Your Air Filter
If you want to save up on your heating and cooling bills while performing maintenance on your HVAC unit then you should change your air filter! Doing this once or twice a month can improve your indoor air quality, prevent your AC from working overtime and reduce your unit’s energy consumption by 5 to 15%!
3. Use LED Bulbs
If you want to save up on your electricity bill, start off by replacing your incandescent bulbs with LEDs! These lights last 25 times longer and use 75% less energy than standard incandescent bulbs. They are also incredibly versatile, don’t radiate heat and can be compatible with dimmer switches.
4. Switch Outdoor Lights to Solar
Going solar has a lot of benefits, but the greatest one is the burden it takes off your energy bills! Start replacing your outdoor lights with solar lights. They are generally easy to install and can simply be staked into the ground.
5. Ensure You Have Insulation
Insulating your home, specifically in places like your attic, crawlspaces, walls and ceilings can reduce your heating and cooling bills by 20% and overall energy costs by 10%. Sealing up your home can prevent significant energy loss and prevents your HVAC unit from working overtime to provide the cooling or heating that you need.
6. Fix Air Leaks
Air leaks are most commonly found around doors and underneath windows and are usually caused by worn out weatherstripping. If you notice your doors and windows are not properly sealed, be sure to replace old weatherstripping materials with new ones from your nearest home improvement store!
7. Take Shorter Showers
Cutting your showers short can reduce water and time wastage. In addition to taking shorter showers, consider replacing your showerhead with a WaterSense labelled one. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, by simply replacing one showerhead the average family can save 2,900 gallons of water every year.
