Thanks to the countless technologies, useful apps and improved automatic systems in the world today, things have become much easier — specifically for renters.
We are quite lucky to exist in an era dominated by technology and innovation. Perhaps if we lived a green, eco-friendlier lifestyle, the world would be much better for us all.
Imagine a world with lower carbon emissions and more trees; the earth would be impacted significantly. Living green correlates to being energy efficient. Some eco-friendly changes here and there; and we’d be able to create our dream version of the earth, while reducing your apartment’s utility bill and rent. Sounds great, right?
Here are some DIY ideas to make your apartment or home more energy-efficient.
An Energy Audit Could Help
When you pay utility bills, it is important to understand what you actually pay for. Every apartment is peculiar in terms of energy usage; getting a grasp of where the energy increment is coming from would be a great way to start your journey to energy efficiency. Energy audits help you do this. An audit helps you realize how you use energy and can give you a foundation to formulate plans on how to save energy better. You can even compare your bills with that of other tenants to find out the average bill per rented apartment.
Switch Off Appliances After Use
This is perhaps an important habit to master when it comes to reducing your energy bills. Do you switch off your bulbs when not in use? If you don’t, why not? Most of the energy we end up using is consumed when no one is using appliances like bulbs, but they have been left on. Alternatively, you could replace conventional light bulbs with pre-set smart bulbs.
Again, smart plugs are great ways of reducing the amount of phantom load consumed by electrical devices, which would result in lower energy use. Investing in them would be a great approach to make your home both smart and energy-efficient.
Not just appliances; also your running water. According to EPA, an average person could save up to $170 a year by being conscious of water usage. When you conserve water, you would make use of your pump less often which then results in less energy use. Whenever you use water; shaving, brushing, bathing, washing- make conscious efforts to save water. You could also conserve water when doing the laundry by running a full-load. Running a full-load, rather than a half, means more clothes get washed at once and is a great way of conserving water and money.
Make a Smart Decision Regarding Your Thermostat
Upgrading your thermostat is a cost-effective way to not only by-pass upgrading your ducts, air conditioners, and furnaces, but also an environmental approach to the provision of a moderate temperature at all times. If your thermostat is over 10 years, you could make do with an upgrade to a programmable version of a thermostat. Because a general rule of thumb is: a better thermostat, a better HVAC system. With better HVAC systems, there are better energy savings possibilities.
A programmable thermostat gives you the luxury of pre-setting your preferred temperature for specific periods of time. For instance, you could program up to 4 schedules, 7 days a week. This means that you no longer have to tip-toe across your cold room at 3am to change your thermostat’s temperature settings.
A major advantage of the programmable thermostat is you no longer have to pay for the heating and cooling you do not use, and if this effectively reduces rent! You simply have to reduce the temperature and schedule it to increase before you get back home. What’s more, these thermostats have the ability to alternate between temperatures really quickly without putting much stress on your cooling and heating systems.
The environment is not left out; new thermostats do not make use of the toxic substance found in previous versions- mercury. Doing so, it makes the environment safer.
Replace Incandescent Bulbs
Ever thought of how much electricity those incandescent bulbs are gulping? Since 2014, manufacturers stopped producing incandescent bulbs. If you are still using one, you should know that they are less energy-efficient compared to the kind of bulbs still in production. Halogen bulbs, Compact Fluorescent Bulbs (CFL) and Light-emitting diode (LED) provide longer-lasting light while keeping your energy bill low. They are better options compared to incandescent bulbs.
Install a Solar Generator in Your House
One of the benefits of the increasing solar radiance on the earth due to global warming is that you can harness its power into generating energy for your home and keeping energy costs low. A solar generator is an alternative power source that utilizes the energy emitted from the sun in generating electricity for a home. Although they are quite expensive, a one-time investment would save you from overspending on utility bills in the future, according to SolarGenerator.guide portable solar generators offer a simple and clean solution for recharging personal electronics, powering small appliances and backing up your home in cases of emergency.
Reduce Your Heat Usage
Right behind space-cooling, space-heating remains one of the biggest gobblers of energy. No doubt, convincing yourself you don’t need heat during your morning shower might be a tough choice to make. But, a smart thermostat could help reduce your energy usage while still providing you with maximum comfort. You might want to get one.
A smart thermostat uses improved technologies and sensors to detect when you are away from the house. They can also learn your schedule as well as automatically make energy-saving settings based on your local weather and temperature preferences. Installing one of these in your home would drastically reduce your energy usage.
Schedule Energy Advice from an Expert
Really, regardless of how well you might try to attain maximum energy efficiency in your apartment, there would be some leaks here and there. This is what generates the need for expert advice. Experts use specialized tools and skills to evaluate your home, and then recommend a cost-effective manner of approach to tackle the leaks. Doing so, you can improve your comfort as well as the efficiency of your appliances while keeping your energy bill as low as possible.
Wrapping it Up
Living an energy-efficient lifestyle will not only save you money in terms of your utility bill and apartment costs but also see it as your avid contribution towards reducing carbon footprint and making the world a greener place for future generations.
