Businesses and consumers are continually adopting new practices and lifestyle hacks to minimize their energy use, resulting in a smaller carbon footprint and more money in their pockets.
Not everybody knows all the hacks available or ha the available resources to go completely solar and energy independent.
However, there are a few basic hacks that consumers can implement to minimize their energy use.
3 Hacks to Reduce Consumers Energy Use
Try the following few hacks and start reducing your energy bills and your environmental impact.
1. Eliminate Vampire Energy
This is the simplest energy reducing hack that often gets overlooked. In fact, the total electricity consumed by idle electronics is equivalent to the annual output of 12 power plants, according to the EPA.
Vampire is also known as standby power and occurs when electric power is being consumed by electronic and electrical appliances while they are switched off or in standby mode.
You can easily eliminate vampire energy by using a power strip for multiple appliances or electronics and by flipping the switch off if they aren’t in use. You can also unplug individual electronics when you’re not using them.
2. Choose LED Lighting
According to the Department of Energy, LED bulbs use up to 80% less energy than incandescent light bulbs and can last 3-25 times longer.They are available in a variety of hues, colors, and styles. By flipping the light switch off when you leave the room, you can further reduce your energy waste.
3. Adding Energy Efficient Installations and Appliances
There are plenty of energy efficient solutions available to replace your installations and appliances that waste energy and hike up your utility bills.
Your thermostat, water heater, windows, doors, electric and water systems can all be upgraded to help you save money and reduce your impact on the environment.
Windows and doors play a significant role in energy waste make-up and can affect a large portion of your entire utility bill.
Windows and doors with low-e coatings, tints or impact glass can considerably reduce consumers’ electric bills because they minimize solar heat gain and better insulate the home, which ultimately helps regulate the temperature.
If you’re interested in improving your home’s energy efficiency, you can request a professional or DIY home energy audit provided by the Department of Energy.
Learn more about how you can help reduce the environmental impact of your energy use and click the button below to access EAS’s energy value product matrix.
