The problem with the excess use of energy lies in the fact that its source, usually isn’t renewable. This means that the light bulb that you leave on overnight needs to be powered by a plant that burns fossil fuels. This creates a massive problem in two different dimensions. First of all, it causes air pollution and second, it taps on the resources that won’t be available for long.
Still, a lot of people see this as a problem that needs to be solved by some higher authority. They expect that a reform, regulation or rule will somehow compel all the major polluters to tackle this issue and resolve it for them. What they fail to see is the fact that in order to push our world forward, we all have to do our parts. Individuals and small businesses alike might want to look for a way to conserve energy and in this way help both their budget and the planet at the same time. Here are four ways to do so.
1. Go for LED
The first major change you want to introduce into your office or household is the replacement of all your traditional bulbs with LED ones. The reason behind this is simple – LED bulbs are superior in every way possible. First of all, they produce the same amount of light while using only one-quarter of power. For instance, an incandescent needs 60 W to produce 900 lm, while an LED bulb can do so with only 15 W. Even apart from this, the fact that LED converts this power more to light than to heat makes them last significantly more. An incandescent bulb lasts 1,000 to 2,000 hours, while its LED counterpart might hit the 50,000 hours’ mark. So, apart from producing less waste, LED also requires you to invest less effort when it comes to their replacement.
2. Replace your old appliances
Another thing you need to keep in mind is the fact that the older an appliance gets the more energy it spends. Therefore, keeping around an outdated appliance might only seem like a frugal move when, in reality, it actually stands to lose you more money in the long-run. It gets even better, seeing as how some modern devices come with a low-power mode. In fact, some devices are even designed to be low-power altogether, which creates an advantage for your household/office on so many different levels.
3. Reusing old items
Saving money and energy is not just about looking for ways to reduce your home’s electricity consumption. It is also about reducing our carbon footprint in general, as well as reducing the environmental impact. One of the ways to do so is to reuse old items by re-purposing them. This, however, poses a temporary issue of storage. Therefore, you might want to look for some removal quotes online in order to figure out what to do with all those items you can’t fit in your home right away yet plan to reuse later on.
There are so many interesting DIY projects online you could look into but this is only the tip of the iceberg of all the options that you have available. Nevertheless, not all rubbish can be repurposed, especially when it comes to things like debris consisting of rubber tires, old mattresses, gas cylinders, and paint.
4. Go for insulation
The next thing you should address is the energy efficiency of your home. You see, by insulating your home you can significantly reduce the amount of heat leaving it, therefore, you will be able to keep it warm by spending less energy. This project, however, doesn’t stop at wall insulation. For it to work, you also have to replace all your windows with double-glazing ones, as well as invest in a quality door. Apart from this, you also want to do some attic insulation, in order to prevent heat from leaving your home via its roof. One last thing you need to keep in mind is that although we, so far, focused on heat, during the summer, a proper installation can help keep your home cooler at a reduced cost, as well.
In conclusion
Apart from these major changes, investments, and reforms, you can make a change by simply changing some of your habits. Turning off appliances when not using them is just one of the ways to make a difference. Aside from this, washing clothes at a lower temperature and air-drying them helps, as well. In other words, those who are really determined to try and make a difference can do so without investing a single dime. On the other hand, those who want to save some serious money along the way might still need to do some remodeling and innovation.
