Energy consumption is at an all-time high. Luckily, there are ways you can decrease the energy consumption in your home and in your car that will save you money. Some of the ways you can save on energy costs are surprising. Here are five ways you can save on energy costs for your home and your car. Try one or all of these five tricks to save energy.
1. Unplug Electronics Not In Use
About 75% of energy usage in homes in the United States is used by electronic devices that are turned off. One of the easiest ways to cut back on energy use is to unplug devices that are not being used. Devices that use energy while not in use are considered “energy vampires”. Make it a habit to unplug charging cords, lamps, and other items that are not being used. There is a lot of energy that can be saved by just unplugging what you are not using in your home.
2. Adjust Your Thermostat
Another trick you can try to save energy in your home is to lower your thermostat in the winter and raise it in the summer. Raising or lowering your temperature by two degrees can shave up to 15% off your energy bill. Heating and cooling are responsible for about 40% of your home’s energy consumption according to the EPA.
This trick can also help reduce energy consumption and bills; turn your water heater off when you are not home. All you need to do is flip the switch on your breaker to cut off power to your water heater. Water heaters will continuously heat water up whether you need it or not. Turning off your water heater when you leave home can reduce energy consumption and costs.
3. Maintain Your Car
Proper maintenance of your car will help you get better gas mileage and reduce energy consumption. One of the most important things you can do to improve gas mileage on your vehicle is to make sure that your tires are in good condition. Every 3,000-5,000 miles your tires need rotation. A good rule of thumb is to rotate the tires at every oil change. Rotation of your tires is not the only way to improve gas mileage. Proper inflation of your tires is another simple way to improve energy efficiency, but don’t stop with the tires, there are more things to do.
Regular oil changes will keep your car running like a top and help conserve energy. Proper alignment is important to increasing gas mileage. A well-maintained vehicle is an energy-efficient vehicle.
4. Use Other Power Sources
If you are really committed to reducing energy consumption and reducing your energy costs, make some power source changes. Solar energy for the home, and upgrading to an electric car, is not just trendy, it is a tremendous savings opportunity. Solar energy technology has greatly improved. In 2005 photovoltaic capacity was around five gigawatts. By 2018, it was 509.3 gigawatts on average. Using solar energy at home and using an electric vehicle will reduce your energy costs by leaps and bounds. Additionally, you will be part of the solution when it comes to conserving energy. Using renewable resources is a great way to conserve energy.
5. Make The Changes
Don’t sit around worrying about the skyrocketing costs of energy and how overuse is affecting the world. Make changes that will help you reduce the energy you use at home and in your car. Simple changes can have big impacts.
Conserving energy is everyone’s responsibility. It is good for the planet and for your pocket. Learn more about conserving energy by doing your research and asking questions.
