New innovations and technology are rewriting what we know about energy consumption. We take for granted our most common daily habits and day-to-day activities. Cooking, driving, heating or cooling our homes, or just simply switching the lights on, all of which consume energy.
The whole world is looking for modern solutions to help conserve energy, on the international, national, local and individual levels. Solutions are all around us and within us. Being more mindful about how we use energy, and changing some of our behavior is where to start.
How Much are You Paying for Energy?
Most people think they pay too much for their electricity and gas. But that might be because they’re not clear on standing charge and unit charge. Energy specialists from Usave.co.uk state that the standing charge is a fixed daily rate that you pay, while the unit charge is what you pay per kilowatt-hour, and is subject to change according to your usage. The two are related, but there are some deals on the market that don’t demand a standing charge, which is important for those who might have a second home that is vacant most of the year.
Generally, a standing charge deal means you pay less when your home is occupied, but if the home isn’t, you might be paying more than you have to.
Conserving and finding energy solutions should be on everyone’s to-do-list every day. Modern technology has made it possible to find modern energy solutions. Here’s a look at some ways you can reduce your carbon footprint.
Light Bulbs
By now in 2020, traditional light bulbs can easily be replaced with energy saving bulbs. Compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), light-emitting diode bulbs (LEDs) and Halogen incandescent bulbs use a lower amount of electricity that can go from 25 to even 80%. Off the shelf, they’re more expensive than traditional bulbs, but save you a ton of money in the long run.
Phantom Loads
Phantom loading is the amount of electricity used when an electronic device is plugged in but not being used; i.e. Standby mode for TVs, computers, small appliances, and charges. Phantom loading is costing you without you realizing it. There are a few ways to prevent phantom loading, obviously unplugging a device the most obvious of ways. Using power strips is another solution. Also known as smart strips, you can use a smart strip with your computer or TV, which turns off all the other devices on the strip automatically. You can also monitor business energy costs by installing a smart meter for business. It can help your premises monitor energy costs and spot phantom loads nearly in real time.
Energy Saving Homes
If you’re in the market for a new home, it’s time for you to buy one that is energy efficient. Even if you’re not searching for a new one, you can make your current home much more energy efficient. Energy-saving homes have a few things in common. Some of the most common features include sealed thermal building envelope to separate indoor and outdoor air, controlled ventilation, and energy-efficient doors and windows.
Insulation plays a major role; the attic, walls, floors, basement, and crawl space are five focal areas to consider adding insulation to. This can provide you with a comfortable home, while also saving energy and increasing its value.
Energy Efficient Appliances
Roughly speaking, the electrical devices in your home consume around 13% of its energy use. When buying a home appliance, there are two numbers to look at: the purchasing price and the annual operating cost. Like energy saving light bulbs, these appliances will have a higher purchase price, but their operating costs are between 9% and 25% lower than other appliance models. Depending on the appliance, energy saving will differ, but in all cases, they will have lower energy consumption, which can save you lots of money and lots of energy.
Install Smart Thermostat
A smart thermostat reduces your use of energy when cooling or heating your home. It automatically turns off at the desired temperature when you’re sleeping or out of your home, and you don’t need to upgrade your HVAC system to install one of these thermostats. However, you can opt for upgrading your system to make it more energy-efficient, since heating accounts for 40% of your energy usage.
The world uses several sources of energy, including solar, wind, tidal energy and more. New sources pop up every so often, but they’re not yet strong enough to power our modern day living. Finding the right solutions guarantees you a comfortable home, and a better quality of life, by reducing emissions and giving us better air quality. Modern problems need modern solutions. The solutions are there; it’s a matter of utilizing them.