Whether you are into the whole “green” lifestyle or not, saving energy benefits everybody. To some, it is a great way to do their part for the planet. To others, it is a great way to knock a few bucks off of the electric bill. Whichever group you fall under, lowering your energy usage can be extremely rewarding. Now, not everybody has the money or time to install solar panels. Not only that, but living in the sweltering heat, or the freezing cold, isn’t a livable solution. For those who value baby steps, we have some great info for you. Here are some easy changes you can make to make your home more energy-efficient.
Get a Smart Thermostat
Smart thermostats are an affordable way to step into the world of sustainability. Not only that, but it is a pretty painless way as well! Not only does it maximize convenience, allowing you to change your home’s temperature anywhere; it makes it so you don’t even have to change the way you live to save energy and money! Smart thermos, like the Nest thermostat, often include software that maximizes your energy efficiency. This saves you the headache caused by constantly having to fiddle with the thermostat to ensure you aren’t breaking the bank in those summer months. Additionally, a huge bonus comes in the form of a rebate offered by most gas and electric companies for having a smart thermostat. Before purchasing, check to see if your provider participates, or has any specific brand requirements.
Use Surge Protectors/Power Taps
Surge protectors and power taps are a must-have for many reasons. They help make sure you don’t have cables all over the place, protectors keep your equipment safe, and they put many of your electronics on one switch. This is where the energy savings come in. When leaving a room, individually unplugged everything in the room is a bit of a pain. What a surge protector allows you to do, is turn off everything plugged in at that location with one switch. even if you don’t have a wall switch connected to the outlet, you can hit the switch on the surge protector or unplug it. This gives you a one-step way to ensure no dormant electronics are drawing unnecessary power.
Update Your Appliances
While a little pricey and can hurt your budget, this tip is in the “easy” category because it was probably on your to-do list anyway. Not only are newer appliances nicer looking and using more updated tech; they also tend to have much better energy ratings than the older stuff. If you’ve got some 20-year-old fridge in your home, odds are it costs a good deal more to keep running than a new fridge (not to mention the smell). This goes for all kitchen appliances, TVs, and any other home electronics. As tech moves forward, energy efficiency is getting easier and easier to achieve. So, treat yourself to a bit of an upgrade, and save make your home more energy-efficient at the same time!
Trey LaRocca is a freelance writer, financial sales worker, and tech guy. When he isn’t out and about or at work, he’s usually at home enjoying some video games and a beer. Currently residing in Newport Beach, this California Kid can be found at the beach on any given weekend. Trey has years of experience in day/swing trading, financial analytics, and sales.