Did you know that making your house a green home is not only great for the environment but also great for your wallet? When it comes to energy efficiency, it is all about the small changes that make a big impact. As a homeowner, it can be easy to lose sight of how your consumption is affecting the environment. Here are our best tips to help reduce your carbon footprint and at the same time, help you maximise your savings this Winter!
Sealing
One of the biggest challenges you face when heating a room is keeping that warm air inside. Turning your heater on, only to have the hot air escape through cracks, windows and underneath doors is wasteful. By caulking cracks, correctly sealing windows and ducts and using draft snakes beneath doors, you can save up to 10% on heating costs. Properly sealing your rooms will help keep the heat in winter and the cool in summer.
Utilise Your Heater’s Settings
Depending on how cold it gets where you live, your home might have a ducted heater, a split system or a space heater to help keep you warm during the cold months. No matter the type, most heaters will have adjustable settings. Be smart with these to minimise your energy use while maximising your heating. If your heater has a timer system, program this to start and stop during the day depending on when your family is at home. In gas systems, it is important to keep ducts clear for maximum efficiency, contact a licensed technician for a duct cleaning service. Some heating systems also have zoning settings, use these to heat only rooms that are in use to save even more.
Insulation
In many homes, insulation is the most cost effective way to make a house energy efficient. Keeping you warm in the Winter (and cool in the Summer), insulation can save up to 80% of heating losses. A properly insulated home will reduce your reliance on heating and reduce your energy use- helping you save money on your bills. Insulation is most cost effective if installed when a home is being built. However, it is still possible and increasingly common to install into the walls and ceilings of an existing home.
Upgrade Your Water Heater
Water heaters can have a lifespan of over 20 years if cared for correctly. As long as you have hot water, it is easy to forget about this appliance. However, it is likely that newer, more efficient models have been introduced since yours was installed. This means that you could be missing out on significant savings. The higher energy stars your model has, the more energy, and money you save. Tankless water heaters can help you save up to 30% on your energy consumption and are a fantastic upgrade for homes with older tank systems. You should also consider gas vs. electricity to power your hot water system, as there are savings associated with both types.
For those interested in making an even greater change, consider solar hot water. Solar powered water heaters can help reduce costs significantly, and with the latest technology be highly environmentally friendly. Don’t let the upfront expenses of an upgrade deter you, this investment will pay off over time, and the environment will thank you too!
Energy Saving Lighting
Switching to energy efficient lighting is one of the easiest and most cost effective changes you can make to reduce energy usage. You could even halve your household lighting costs. The most energy efficient bulbs only use 20% of the energy to produce the same amount of light as a traditional globe. Plus, they will last much longer!
Fix Leaks
A leaking tap can waste 10,000 litres of water in a just a few months! Aside from being noisy and annoying, dripping taps are very wasteful. If you have a leaking tap, contact a licensed plumber to repair. A leaking toilet may go unnoticed, but can also waste more than 16,000 litres of water in a year! To check for leaks, put a little food colouring in the toilet tank. If without flushing, the colouring begins to appear in the bowl it should be repaired immediately. Check out our post on how to check for a toilet leak for a simple DIY.
If you need any help making these changes in your home, do not hesitate to contact us. Service Today’s licensed electricians, plumbers and heating technicians can help you make the right changes to help you save. Get in touch with us, simply dial 1300 859 383!
