The Department of Energy revealed that up to 20% of a household’s annual electricity supply goes to waste. There are many reasons for this, such as air leaks and old appliances. These can make airconditioning systems work harder. If you have old appliances, they can use more energy and emit more greenhouse gases. Traditional bulbs emit more heat but only last for a short period.
However, the experts at www.insulatekansascity.com say that these problems can be resolved when you make a few changes at home like adding spray foam insulation, LED light bulbs, inverters, and buy energy-efficient appliances. When you do one of these things, you can significantly reduce your carbon footprint together with the electricity bill. Here are some tips on increasing the energy efficiency of your home.
Insulate your home
Roof, floors, and walls have cavities that cause air leaks. You can prevent this when you use spray foam insulation to make sure that even the smallest of holes are sealed.
Additionally, insulation helps in regulating the temperature of the house. It affects the conduction of heat through walls, floors, and the roof. As a result, it keeps the house cool when the weather is hot and vice versa.
The airconditioning unit works less hard when the house is insulated. Aside from this, the level of comfort at home will significantly increase.
Switch to LED lights
Light-emitting diode (LED) lights save energy, last longer, and are brighter than the regular incandescent bulbs. LED lights utilize a semiconductor to produce light. This decreases one’s use of energy by 80% because LED is up to seven times more energy-efficient. LED can also last for more than 25,000 hours. This is 25 times longer than the lifespan of incandescent bulbs.
LED lights are also more focused than regular bulbs. This leads to more savings because it eliminates the need for reflectors and diffusers.
Switching to an Inverter Type Airconditioner
An inverter controls and airconditioner’s motor speed. The unit works to reach the desired temperature of the room. When the temperature changes, the compressor motors turn on until the temperature comes back to the way it was. During this process, the motors are always activated and deactivated.
An inverter can keep this process going without the perpetual turning on and off of the motors. An inverter ensures that the motors are running smoothly by controlling its speed, without the drastic fluctuations. This minimizes energy use.
Upgrading your appliances
9% of a household’s electricity bill is from the use of appliances. Old appliances consume more energy than new ones because of improvements in technology. For example, a refrigerator from 30 years ago consumes 1400kWh per year while a new one today only consumes 350kWh.
When you replace old appliances with new ones, households can become more energy efficient. New appliances also release fewer greenhouse gases.
Consumers can look for the Energy Star rating when purchasing new appliances. This informs the public that the product is energy-efficient and eco-friendly so that consumers can make informed decisions.
Making these changes in your home might mean you would need to spend more, but your savings will inevitably increase because of lower utility bills. More importantly, you’ll be saving the planet.
