The cost of energy is among the most significant ongoing expenses for modern consumers, who tap petrol, electricity, natural gas and other energy sources, on a daily basis. From home heating systems to the myriad electrical devices propping up today’s lifestyles, energy use adds-up quickly. Though you won’t likely eliminate energy spending from your budget, there are steps you can take to keep costs in line.
Responsible energy consumption includes personal conservation efforts, like sharing rides and staying mindful of wasted energy. But it also relies on efficient equipment and ecologically friendly infrastructure. If you are committed to saving money on energy, start with a close look at your home’s features. Though some energy upgrades require investment up-front, most can be accomplished without stretching your budget.
Motion Sensors and Photoelectric Lighting
Electricity accounts for a significant share of energy spending, so using it efficiently keeps costs low. Unfortunately, even mindful families fail to do the right thing at times, leaving unused lights and devices powered-up when they are not being used. If you see room for improvement within your home, automated add-ons are perfect compliments to your residential energy conservation strategy.
Efficiency is about accommodating your needs, without wasting energy and money. Automation helps you get the job done, providing an energy saving safety net. Photoelectric exterior lighting, for example, uses sensors to track daylight. Depending upon its location and the natural light reaching the sensor, the photoelectric unit automatically turns on and off, as needed. In much the same way, fixtures equipped with motion sensors respond to movement, switching lights on as you enter rooms and putting them out as you leave.
Programmable Heating Controls
Heat settings influence energy spending, because your boiler is one of the most demanding energy-users in your home. Lowering your thermostat setting even a single degree, for example, can lead to measurable savings during cold-weather months. And while it is one thing to conscientiously manage home heat settings, automated options may furnish further savings.
Programmable thermostats enable users to plug-in their heating demands ahead of time, precisely controlling the home heating cycle. By reducing the call for heat when there is no one home, for example, users avoid wasting energy when heat isn’t needed. And with the proper settings in-place, you won’t notice reduced warmth or comfort – only savings.
Insulation and Air-Sealing
One of the best ways to manage energy use at home is to control the transfer of heat energy from the inside, to the outside. And since the transfer goes both ways, insulation and air-sealing also reduce cold air infiltration into your heated living space. In many cases, Government assistance helps homeowners offset the cost of energy improvements, so saving money doesn’t always mean out-of-pocket expense.
Insulation fills wall cavities, and creates a thermal barrier above the ceiling of your living space. The idea is to buffer the cold and trap heated air inside. Its effectiveness is rated on a standard scale, so your best approach is to meet insulation recommendations from builders and energy agencies. Fiberglass rolls furnish the best option for many attics and crawl spaces, but exterior wall compartments may require blown-in insulation material.
For insulation to be most effective, gaps and air breaches found within your home must be sealed. The most effective way to seal small openings is to fill them with latex caulk, while larger crevices can be addressed using expanding foam products. Do-it-yourselfers are capable of caulking, but the service can also be contracted through painters and professional energy auditors. In fact, energy professionals can also be hired to find infiltrations in your home’s thermal envelope. Their infrared cameras, for instance, furnish dramatic evidence of cold air infiltration, showing clear visual contrasts between warm (red) and cold (blue) air.
Changing your personal behavior is one way to bring energy costs down, but money saving efforts are hindered by inefficient infrastructure. To make the most of your energy budget, update your home’s efficiency, to include recommended levels of insulation and an efficient boiler. Programmable thermostats and automated lighting furnish further upgrades for those committed to energy savings.
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Michelle these are some really great tips to saving money during the winter season. I am very lucky for I live in Navy base housing so I don’t pay utilities. I have practiced a all of these tips when I was living in NJ while stationed in New York. They all saved me money.
NICE!! People forget about the perks of living on a base. The East Coast is having a brutal winter-good thing you’re not there this year!