It's hard to believe, but small holes and cracks around windows cause energy losses worth more than 13 billion dollars in the United States alone. To put it in perspective, that is equivalent to Kenya's entire 2012 budget. Numbers like that show the need for ordinary citizens to join in the fight to save the environment. There are several energy conservation techniques that can be used in ordinary households to save power.
The process of conservation starts with an audit. This is needed in order to determine exactly what needs to be changed. The thorough checks are normally carried out by qualified technicians; however, advances in technology are making it possible for ordinary homeowners to do some of the checks on their own. These include smart meters and smart phone applications. These investigations are not limited to a home's physical structure. They also peer into processes and systems.
Contrary to popular perceptions, these checks go beyond a home's physical structure. They look at processes and systems too. A complete audit gives homeowners the information they need to make changes.
Switching from the good old incandescent light bulbs is one of the easiest ways to reduce power use. These devices have been a fixture in many homes for more than 200 years and they have been showing their age for some time. While they give out pleasant illumination, incandescent bulbs are notorious resources hogs, adding hundreds of dollars to household power bills.
Since no one buys light bulbs for the heat, it is a much better idea to switch to compact fluorescent lights, light emitting diodes and other forms of efficient lighting. This move can shave hundreds of dollars every year from a household electricity bill. It will stop tons of greenhouse gases from damaging the environment.
Homeowners should also check for and replace inefficient windows, skylights and doors, as they account for a considerable proportion of a home's power loss. For instance, while windows cover up to ten percent of a structure's surface, they can increase heating and cooling costs by forty percent. Installation should be done by professionals in order to avoid making cracks around the frames.
Air conditioners are electrical hogs. An inefficient unit can add thousands of dollars to a home's power bill. Older models are particularly notorious for their high power use. These should be replaced as soon as possible. The thermostat should be turned down a notch or two wherever possible. This can create huge savings over the long term. Homeowners who are shopping for new units should be on the lookout for the famous Energy Star rating. It provides consumers with a quick way of gauging efficiency.
Surprisingly enough, not all energy conservation techniques need thousands of dollars in investments. Sometimes, behavior change is all that is needed. For instance, it should be a habit to unplug all televisions, game consoles, media players and other electronic devices, as they still use power in standby mode. The same thing should be done to chargers. Avoid opening the refrigerator door too often, and use the microwave rather than a traditional oven where possible. Computers should be set to hibernate after a prolonged period of idleness. Every little bit helps.
The process of conservation starts with an audit. This is needed in order to determine exactly what needs to be changed. The thorough checks are normally carried out by qualified technicians; however, advances in technology are making it possible for ordinary homeowners to do some of the checks on their own. These include smart meters and smart phone applications. These investigations are not limited to a home's physical structure. They also peer into processes and systems.
Contrary to popular perceptions, these checks go beyond a home's physical structure. They look at processes and systems too. A complete audit gives homeowners the information they need to make changes.
Switching from the good old incandescent light bulbs is one of the easiest ways to reduce power use. These devices have been a fixture in many homes for more than 200 years and they have been showing their age for some time. While they give out pleasant illumination, incandescent bulbs are notorious resources hogs, adding hundreds of dollars to household power bills.
Since no one buys light bulbs for the heat, it is a much better idea to switch to compact fluorescent lights, light emitting diodes and other forms of efficient lighting. This move can shave hundreds of dollars every year from a household electricity bill. It will stop tons of greenhouse gases from damaging the environment.
Homeowners should also check for and replace inefficient windows, skylights and doors, as they account for a considerable proportion of a home's power loss. For instance, while windows cover up to ten percent of a structure's surface, they can increase heating and cooling costs by forty percent. Installation should be done by professionals in order to avoid making cracks around the frames.
Air conditioners are electrical hogs. An inefficient unit can add thousands of dollars to a home's power bill. Older models are particularly notorious for their high power use. These should be replaced as soon as possible. The thermostat should be turned down a notch or two wherever possible. This can create huge savings over the long term. Homeowners who are shopping for new units should be on the lookout for the famous Energy Star rating. It provides consumers with a quick way of gauging efficiency.
Surprisingly enough, not all energy conservation techniques need thousands of dollars in investments. Sometimes, behavior change is all that is needed. For instance, it should be a habit to unplug all televisions, game consoles, media players and other electronic devices, as they still use power in standby mode. The same thing should be done to chargers. Avoid opening the refrigerator door too often, and use the microwave rather than a traditional oven where possible. Computers should be set to hibernate after a prolonged period of idleness. Every little bit helps.
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