We are always looking for ways to cut down on our expenses. From car insurance to monthly utilities to food costs, there's always room for improvement. No household can afford to be wasteful. We already have some procedures in place to shop economically and
prevent food waste with weekly planning and prep. But in
many households, including my own, this barely scratches the surface. The toughest nut to
crack for most families is the old chestnut of energy waste. Whether it’s
through ignorance, negligence or just plain forgetting, the average American
home wastes a lot of energy. In fact, as a nation we’re almost
70% energy inefficient. That’s almost two-thirds of the energy generated in the United States that is
wasted.
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In many cases, diligence is always your greatest defense against energy waste. Unplugging devices instead of leaving them on standby, installing replacement windows with an energy-efficiency rating, switching off air conditioning or heating when leaving the house and limiting your time in the shower are all great measures that every family should adopt. Some of us, however, need a little help. Thankfully, the miracle of modern technology has given us some devices to make saving energy easier than ever.
Install efficient shower heads
Did you know that most American households waste 40 gallons of water per
day in the shower? Experts recommend that to save water your shower should
last no longer than 4 minutes. If, however, you prefer to take a more
leisurely shower (um, yes, please!), you can still reduce your water waste with an efficient
low flow shower head. These bad boys can save you roughly a gallon of water
per minute and reduce your water use by up to 60%.
Install a tankless water heater
Many of us prefer a long soak in the bath to a shower, but that shouldn’t
prohibit those who prefer to bathe from making savings on their energy. Check out these
electric tankless water heater reviews to see how much you can save. On average these will save you 22% on your
operational costs per year. That’s a huge energy saving!
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Use energy saving light bulbs
If your home is lit by incandescent bulbs, then you may not be aware just
how much energy (and money) you could be wasting. Incandescent bulbs heat
up a filament to create both heat and light energy. The thing is that 90%
of the energy created is heat energy and just 10% of that energy is light.
This means that incandescent bulbs are just 10% efficient. Unless your
family gathers around a lightbulb for warmth (not recommended), you should
replace all your bulbs with more efficient compact fluorescent lamps or
LEDs.
Invest in timed thermostats
We’re all quick to reach for the thermostat when we’re not happy with the
temperature. The trouble is that not everyone adjusts their thermostat’s
temperature throughout the day. Given that most of us spend 8-10 hours a
day at work and 6-8 hours a day sleeping, we really don’t need to use the
thermostat for 60-75% of the day. Manually changing your thermostat is an
obvious solution, but investing in a timed thermostat can give you energy
savings all year round. |
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Use smart plugs
A lot of us are unaware of how much energy our devices use when active or
on standby. Investing in a smart plug will show you exactly how much energy your devices are using in real time.
Add all those devices together and you can get a really clear idea of how
to use them more efficiently throughout the year.
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