Energy Saving for Homes: How You Can Solve the World Crisis?

Conserving energy is overriding in the present-day scenario. There persists a dire need to cut back on energy consumption. With innumerous harmful emissions in the atmosphere, cutting back is always a good thing. In turn, conserving energy produces a higher quality of life. Reduced emissions result in cleaner air quality. Moreover, it may result in an increase in financial capital, better environmental results, national security, personal security and human comfort.

Significance of Energy Saving at Home

More and more people are becoming passionate about conserving energy at home, and this boils down to two fundamental reasons: to save on utility bills and protect the environment.

If more households use less energy (or a cleaner energy source), a reduction in havoc to the ozone layer will be seen and dependence on fossil fuels, which are non-renewable and detrimental to the environment, will gradually reduce.

With much of the country housebound for the last several months in an effort to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, the homes have been working more rigorously than ever. The air conditioners are running during the hottest hours of the afternoon, people have been preparing and eating every meal at home—demanding much more from stoves, microwaves, coffeemakers, and dishwashers. And it's a trend that's unlikely to end anytime soon. A faction of people, fortunate enough to still have a job, will be working from home for the foreseeable future. This must not change the commitment towards energy conservation.

Living a more sustainable and environmentally friendly lifestyle doesn’t necessarily mean the way of living has to be altered drastically. The act of simply taking small steps to live with more awareness is instrumental in undoing some of the damage already done to the environment.

How to Save Energy at Home?

There are many different ways to reduce a household's energy use, ranging from simple behavioral adjustments to extensive home improvements. Here are some of the most common and efficient energy saving techniques to be followed at home:

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Ease up on the AC- It is recommended to set up AC to 78 degrees Fahrenheit when at home, and 85 when out, to shave up to 10% off the cooling bill.

Turn off unnecessary lights- Two 100-watt incandescent bulbs switched off an extra two hours per day could save $15 over a year. Better yet, switch to LED.

Take shorter showers- Hot water is expensive. If two people at home cut their shower time by a minute each, $30 could be saved over a year.

Hang dry laundry- Electric dryers comprise 5% of the typical household's electricity usage, so every time laundry is hung dried, it’ll save energy, save money, and reduce carbon footprint.

Manage thermostat- Lower the thermostat by two degrees to save 5% on the heating bill. Lowering it five degrees could save 10%.

Be efficient with refrigeration- Keep fridge and freezer at their ideal temperature. For the fridge this is between 2°C and 3°C and the freezer should be at -18°C. This saves up to $25.

Consider going solar- In areas where electricity is more expensive, solar power becomes a better bargain. But chances are, if a good portion of the roof gets unobstructed sunlight, the electric bill (and carbon footprint) could be reduced or eliminated by installing a solar panel.

There are plenty of other strategies, big and small, to save energy at home. But hopefully one or two might align with the lifestyle, proving to be a win-win for the home and the planet. Any action one takes to reduce waste and conserve natural resources is a step in the right direction.

Energy Efficient Home Design

Before designing a new home or remodeling an existing one, consider investing in energy efficiency. It’ll save energy and money, and the home will be more comfortable and durable. The planning process is also a good time to look into a renewable energy system that can provide electricity, water heating, or space heating and cooling. In an existing house, the first step is to conduct a home energy assessment (sometimes referred to as an energy audit) to find out how the home uses energy and determine the best ways to cut energy use and costs. Optimizing home energy efficiency requires a whole-house systems approach to ensure that all the variables, details, and interactions that affect energy use in the home have been considered.

Ultra-efficient homes combine state-of-the-art energy-efficient construction, appliances, and lighting with commercially available renewable energy systems, such as solar water heating and solar electricity. By taking advantage of local climate and site conditions, designers can often also incorporate passive solar heating and cooling and energy-efficient landscaping strategies. The intent is to reduce home energy use as cost-effectively as possible, and then meet the reduced load with on-site renewable energy systems.

To effectively increase energy efficiency involves more than just using less energy - it involves looking at the bigger picture. It requires becoming aware of how energy is used, where it's squandered and how it can be used more effectively in everyday life.

We abuse the environment because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see it as a commodity to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect.

“Every act of energy conservation is more than just common sense: it is an act of patriotism.”

About Us: Enerlly is an organization rooted in industrial automation that deploys Internet-of-Things (IoT) based controllers and online platforms to create sustainable eco-conscious brands through real-time energy monitoring, energy data analytics, and consultancy Energy Auditors.