The Energy-Efficient Household – Make It Yours

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Taking the step to improve the energy efficiency of your home offers a plethora of benefits for you and your household. You do not just contribute to a fresher and greener community, you also get the added benefit of reducing your household expenses.

Whether you own or rent a home, and whether or not renovation is affordable for you, there are various ways to begin switching to a greener home. Smart energy consumption should be your family’s new mantra.

A Cool Roof

You can always begin with a cool roof. This is no less than your first line of defense against the ravaging elements outdoors. Make sure to have a roof that reflects the rays of the sun. Doing this will help reduce the heat that emanates from your roof, thus, improving the overall coolness of your home – no need to turn on air-conditioning.

The cool roof can be done by painting it with a reflective color or the use of tiles (the latter offer a different level of coolness both figurative and literal). Shingles and sheet covering can also have the same effect.

It could be costly at first since you have to add a few features to your roof but it is going to save you a lot of money on energy bills so it’s more than worth it in the long run.

Constricted Doors and Windows

Do not let cool air escape. One effective way to do this is to have tight doors and windows.

If you have aluminum window frames, then it’s time to change them. Vinyl or wood is a better alternative.

As for the windows, you can try the low-E (emissivity) glass panes. This is a kind of energy efficient glass that was specifically designed to prevent heat from escaping through the windows. These come with an invisible coating which can reduce heat transfer and, eventually, reduce your carbon footprint.

Use Energy-Saving Appliances and Fixtures

Everyone seems to be signing up for the energy-saving bandwagon. You can see this with the constant improvements on gadgets and equipment, with each one surpassing the first in terms of energy consumption.

Speak of using less power, you must also check the Energy Star rating of each appliance. This symbol is backed by the government where people use products that are energy efficient and can help save money.

The label of Energy Star is supposed to symbolize the reduction of greenhouse emissions and pollutants brought about by the misuse or inefficient energy use. Check out the list of energy efficient lighting, air-conditioning units, and electrical appliances.

Just Do It

Just like the Nike campaign, you can always begin any endeavor by just doing it, especially when you are stuck with what you have. If there is no way, at the moment, to change the appliances and fixtures that you have at home, then you can follow these quick tips –

At least seal the cracks and holes where heat can easily escape. Check for cracks on windows, the walls, and even gaps around your air-conditioning units.
Always go for LED lighting. Again, such lighting could cost more at first but you will save more eventually when you begin noticing the significant decrease in the amount of your energy bills.
Instead of standby power, just turn off your devices and appliances then unplug.
Make it a habit to read the appliance manuals. Familiarize yourself with the settings and functions of your appliances so that you optimize their use. Reading will help you avoid overloading your washing machine, for instance.
Use carpets and area rugs as insulators. Check from our practical and fashionable rugs here.

Tags: energy efficient living, Energy Star, energy-efficiency, green home, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings

This entry was posted on Saturday, November 25th, 2017 at 9:57 am and is filed under Green Living, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.