10 Energy Efficient Ideas for Your Home

The negative impact of using excess energy in your home is twofold: you are costing yourself money and increasing your carbon footprint. In a state like Pennsylvania where energy rates aren’t exactly low and the lion’s share of it is produced using coal, one of the dirtiest forms of energy around, it is especially important that you cut out the energy waste. That is why we are going to list and explain 10 energy efficient ideas for your home that will curb your environmental impact and reduce the amount that PA electric suppliers will charge you for powering your home.

1. Control your HVAC

Your HVAC is the biggest consumer of energy in your home, especially during the summer and winter months. Reducing its energy consumption is often the single best way to reduce your energy bill. Here is a list of things you can do to dial back your HVAC’s energy use:

• Install an automatic thermostat
• Have routine maintenance done
• Change your filters often (30-60 days)
• Close your blinds during the summer (prevents the sun from overheating your home) and open them during the winter (allows the sun to warm up your home a little)
• Upgrade your roof with reflective shingles
• Install an Energy Star HVAC
• Insulate your home

Since your HVAC is such a big energy consumer (one third to half of your total consumption), taking the above steps can really trim your electric bill, regardless of the current electricity rates in PA.

2. Change your lightbulbs

You may be shocked to learn that traditional incandescent lightbulbs waste 90 percent of their energy as heat. This means only one out if every ten kWh used for your lighbulbs is actually useful. Unfortunately for residents of PA, electric rates therein do not discriminate. Replacing all of your incandescent bulbs with super efficient and similarly priced compact fluorescent bulbs or ultra efficient, but expensive LED lighting will take a bite out of your energy bill.

3. Turn off electric items when you’re done with them

This one is a no-brainer. Shut off your lights, television, gaming console, etc when you are finished with them so that they are not using unnecessary energy. These are easy measures to take around the house, if you don’t you may find electric suppliers in PA are charging you for more than what you would have otherwise had to pay.

4. Invest in power strips

Power strips make number three easy, especially since some things, such as your cell phone charger, keep sapping energy even when it is not plugged into your device. It also makes turning everything off convenient enough to become a habit.

5. Dry your dishes by hand or by air

In most cases, there is little urgency regarding the need for all of the dishes in your washer. That is why you should consider just opening the door and letting them air dry. If you do have an urgent need for a few dishes, hand drying them won’t hurt.

6. Update your appliances

Your HVAC system isn’t the only object in your house that should have an Energy Star label on it. Your fridge, washing machine, dishwasher, etc will be exponentially more efficient as Energy Star appliances. This not only reduces your carbon footprint and the amount that PA electric suppliers can charge you, but it also qualifies you for substantial tax credits.

7. Only wash full loads

You dishwasher and washing machine take up just about the same amount of energy when doing big loads and small loads, so do yourself a favor and fill it up before using it

8. When your electronics are fully charged, unplug them

You may be under the impression that your laptop or cell phone stops charging when it reaches 100 percent, but your charger is using energy to sustain that fully charged state. This puts a strain on your phone’s battery and your overall energy use.

9. Stop using screen savers

You may think your screen saver is saving power, but it really isn’t. Depending on the screensaver, you could actually end up using more screen energy than you would while actually using it. Do yourself a favor and turn your computer screen off.

10. Develop some nocturnal habits

In PA, electric rates often vary based on the time of day. Peak rates are during the daytime; doing some things (washing clothes or dishes for example) after 8 pm could save you a lot of money on your energy bill thanks to reduced off-peak rates.

Visit Make the Switch USA to learn more about how to save energy. Make the Switch USA knows that in states like PA, electric rates are often much too high for consumers. That is why they dedicate themselves to helping you find the best electric suppliers in PA comparing their rates and services.

Article Source:- https://www.sooperarticles.com/home-improvement-articles/energy-efficiency-articles/10-energy-efficient-ideas-your-home-1349885.html

Author writes various articles and blogs about the Electric suppliers in PA that gives some useful information and suggestions about saving money on your electricity bill.