What are the best ways to save energy and reduce bills?
Electric: Turn off what youre not currently using. Even though many electronics have a standby mode, theyre still using electricity and even though its not a lot, it adds up over the course of the year. Install solar panels. No, theyre not as inefficient as you think, nor do they stop working under cloudy skies. Solar panels may be very costly to install, but its well worth the investment. You will most certainly get your money back in five years, and continue to save lots over many decades. Reevaluate your appliances. If you live alone, do you really need such a giant refrigerator? If you dont have much clothes, do you really need a large washing machine? If you live in an extremely dry climate, do you really need a clothes dryer? Reevaluate your consumer electronics. Desktop computers generally use up more electricity than laptops, tablets, and phones. If you only need to browse the web and check your emails, perhaps you dont really need a desktop computer. Try an iPad or Surface Go instead. If youre a casual gamer, try a gaming laptop instead of a gaming desktop. Do you really need a 4k monitor? Try downsizing to a 1080p monitor. Replace old air conditioning units. Most newer A/C units have energy-efficient features that can help you save a lot on your energy bill. Insulate. The more you insulate your home, the less youll need to rely on your A/C and heater. Insulate your attic and basement. Install double-pane windows. Get curtains and drapes over every window and learn to use them to manage indoor temperatures. Switch to carpet to insulate your floors; if youre allergic to carpet, bamboo still has better insulating properties than most hardwood and stone. Water: Switch to tankless water heaters. Since storage tank water heaters require a couple of minutes of running water to finally get hot water, youre often wasting many gallons of water and a lot of gas. Tankless water heaters provide hot water on-demand, as needed. You wont be wasting any utilities waiting for the water to heat up. Switch to water-efficient fixtures. Youd be surprised how much water you actually need for any given task. Once you make the switch to water-efficient faucets, toilets, and shower heads, you start to realize how wasteful regular plumbing fixtures actually are. These fixtures can help you save thousands of gallons of water a year. Wash smart. If you know youre going to wash your dishes in a dishwasher, you dont need to pre-wash them in your sink; just throw large chunks of food in the trash and place the dish directly into the dishwasher. Also, you dont need a washing machine if youre just going to wash a couple of clothes. Only use a washing machine if you can wash your clothes in bulk. Irrigate smart. Sprinklers are EXTREMELY wasteful. They spray way too much water onto areas of no vegetation. Instead, try installing a drip irrigation system. Water as early in the morning as you can. Turn off your irrigation systems during rainy season. Whenever possible, hand-water your plants. If theres ever run-off, it means youre watering too much. Soil only needs to be moist. Get an artificial lawn. Artificial lawns have come a long way many of them look quite realistic, and are designed to last through many decades. Best of all, they require no water whatsoever. Urinate in the shower (or in the sink, if its low enough). Flushing your toilet just to get rid of fluids is a huge waste of water. Urinate in the shower and wash it away with a couple of seconds of running water will save you many gallons of water a day. Gas: Natural gas is much cheaper than electricity. Any appliance that can be run on natural gas will almost always be many times more efficient than their electric counterparts. Gas stoves are more efficient than electric stoves. Gas heaters are more efficient than electric heaters. Gas water heaters are more efficient than electric water heaters. Heat smart. If youre turning on your heater just so you can walk around the house in the nude, then youre wasting a lot. In the long run, sweaters and jackets are a lot cheaper than utility bills.