Energy efficiency at the simplest form, is a method of lowering energy usage by using less energy to produce the same amount of usable performance.
Did you know that the efficient 12 Watt LED bulb, consumes 75-80 per cent less energy than a conventional 60 Watt bulb?
Which produces the same light intensity?
Thanks to rising electricity prices and climate change exacerbated by greenhouse gas emissions, productive use of electricity has become a growing phenomenon in the USA.
Don’t you agree with this statement?
The renewable energy phenomenon is apparent in the consumer goods and devices for sale, all of which are getting increasingly energy-efficient year after year.
The phenomenon also applies to households: Upon agreeing to buy properties, an increasing number of potential homeowners are beginning to seek energy ratings.
Throughout the years domestic energy usage per unit of housing has declined on a regional scale.
This decline in usage is due to improved energy usage, and typical household uses are continuing despite the increasing number of online devices.
During the same time, nevertheless, the overall size and overall number of residential units throughout the US have grown.
As a consequence the overall consumption of residential electricity has remained relatively stable since 1993.
Energy saving-the idea of limiting energy usage by eliminating energy-consuming behaviors-is often mistaken with energy efficiency. The biggest difference between the two principles is how much you ought to modify behaviour.
So, what do you think are the growing myths about energy efficiency?
It does not recommend that you modify your routines
Energy saving requires an amount of compromise, such as fewer regular use of the laundry dryer or switching off the heating in winter.
On the contrary, energy conservation preserves the same amount or standard of production while consuming less energy.
Energy-efficient solutions worth investing in
Another myth is that it is not worth purchasing energy-efficient choices, as they’re more costly than their traditional counterparts.
Indeed, powerful solutions always come at a high price, be it for devices or household configurations.
Energy efficiency can, however, be viewed as an expenditure that builds up savings with time, instead of just a traditional transaction assessed.
Do you agree with these common misconceptions about energy efficiency?
As you may ask, what are the ways to reduce energy consumption? Hang in right there for some tips to save energy.
1. Adapt your daily habits
You don’t actually just go out and buy energy-efficient goods to lessen the electricity usage in your household.
Energy saving when you don’t use them can be as easy as shutting off lamps or devices.
You could also use equipment that takes up more energy less manually, such as hanging your laundry rather than placing everything in the dryer, or washing the dishes instead of popping them into the dishwasher.
Sounds simple right?
Starting to adapt to these habits also become equally simple and help you save on electric bills.
2. Simply substitute your light-bulbs
Conventional light bulbs use so much power and have to be changed more frequently than their energy-efficient equivalents. Halogen incandescent lamps, compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), and light-emitting diode lamps (LEDs) consume less power anywhere between 25-80 percent and last 3-25 times longer than conventional bulbs.
3. Using strips of smart power
“Phantom loads,” or power used by devices when powered off or in standby, are a significant source of wasted energy. Indeed, it is reported that when turned off, 75 percent of the electricity used to run household appliances is wasted, that can save consumers close to $200 annually. Smart power strips (aka advanced power strips) , remove the phantom load issue by switching devices off while they are not in operation.
4. Place in a programmable/smart thermostat
An adaptive thermostat may be programmed to simply shut off or minimize heating and cooling throughout the times that you nap or are abroad.
If you add a programmable thermostat, heating and cooling remove unnecessary energy consumption without updating the HVAC system or losing any warmth.
Did you know you save $180 annually on an average with this system?
5. Buy energy saving devices
Devices are accountable for about 13 percent of the overall residential electricity consumption on an average.
Did you know that you had to note two figures when buying an appliance: the original sales price, and the average running costs. Even though typically energy-efficient devices have higher retail rates, their running costs are 9 to 25 percent lesser than traditional ones.
6. Decrease the heating costs
Heating water adds a great deal to the overall energy consumption.
There are three options to cut the heating costs: you can either use less boiled water, dial down the thermostat or insulate the water heater. Smart water heaters can be more efficient than traditional tank heaters somewhere between a wide range of 8 and 300 per cent. However, make sure to compensate for the long operating life of 10-15 years.
7. Mount energy-efficient windows
Windows are prone to wastage of energy, and can account for 10 to 25 percent of your overall heating fee.
You should swap single-sided windows with double-sided ones to avoid heat loss through the walls. ENERGY STAR windows will save you $20-95 annually on your bills, based on the environment in which you reside.
ENERGY STAR
What’s with the ENERGY STAR label?
Do you notice it while buying an appliance?
I have been to stores and done research on this and noticed that ENERGY STAR approved fabric washing machines use 25% lesser energy and 45% less water than traditional ones, while ENERGY STAR fridges use 9% less energy.
Consumers search for devices with the ENERGY STAR logo while buying an electricity-saving appliance, which is a government promise that the piece of equipment can use less electricity throughout operation than regular non-energy efficient ones.
8. Consider upgrading the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system
Nearly 40 per cent of home electricity consumption is accounted for by heating only.
Owing to the fact that households in Northern areas are subject to significantly cooler conditions throughout the year, ENERGY STAR gas furnaces have separate requirements in the US’ northern and southern parts.
Through contrast, air con is not a key factor to electricity costs–on aggregate, it just accounts for 6% of your home’s overall energy consumption. Central AC units of ENERGY STAR are 8% more powerful than traditional AC systems.
You can however increase the energy efficiency by switching to the third part–ventilation. A vent system is made of a duct system that supplies hot and cold air all over your house.
In conclusion, energy-efficiency may be either compulsory or optional.
No one assumes the goals for energy conservation will stay the same.
Conservation of energy is relevant for several purposes and is advantageous.
Save cash, increase the value of your properties and fight climate change by merely taking energy-saving steps. It’s up to you to protect the atmosphere by conserving electricity.