How many times have you “layered up” in your home in the winter months and walked around in your undergarments in the summer months all to lower your electric bill?
We’ve all been there at some point in our lives. But if you think about it, those were some pretty desperate measures to take just to lower our energy bill, wouldn’t you think?
Unfortunately, this particular tactic is done all the time by millions of people.
The thing to understand about improving your home’s energy efficiency is that it doesn’t require you to be miserable, but what it will require are some lifestyle changes and adjustments.
Unless you’re set in your ways and not open to change, this will be totally painless.
If you’re serious about wanting to improve your home’s energy efficiency and lower your electric bill, here are some lifestyle changes you’ll need to be open to in order to see changes in your home’s energy efficiency.
How You Can Improve Your Home’s Energy Efficiency
1. Be More Mindful Around the House
Improving your home’s energy efficiency starts with the simple gesture of just being more mindful of your home.
Things like turning off the lights in a room when you leave, turning the TV off before falling asleep, and lowering your thermostat or turning it off when you’re going to be gone for extended periods of time are all ways you can be more mindful around the house.
Sometimes you may not always remember what to set your thermostat to in order to lower your bill but there are various technologies that assist with that.
From smart thermostats to smart lighting systems, the simple act of remembering will go a long way for your home’s energy efficiency.
2. Join a Community Solar Initiative
Do you know how much electricity you use on a daily basis? Most people don’t have a clue, but the US Energy Administration does.
A report stated that in 2019, the average household used nearly 10,650 kilowatts of energy that year and that the majority of that energy used came from fossil fuels.
One of the biggest misconceptions about solar energy is that you have to live in a house in order to enjoy the benefits of solar energy, which includes having a reduced electric bill.
But the truth of the matter is that you can live in any type of living space and enjoy solar power, as long as you live near a local community solar farm, all you have to do is sign up to save money!
3. Utilize Natural Light in Your Home
And last but certainly not least, the best source of light in your home is the most natural source, which is sunlight.
If your home gets lots of natural light during the day, there is absolutely no reason to turn any lights on, and depending on the time of year, you can let your windows open and let the nice cool breeze illuminate your home as well.
There are several more ways to improve your home’s energy efficiency like washing your clothes in cold water and only using the dishwasher when it’s full but the three listed above are the major ones that if done consistently, will be reflected on your monthly electric bills.
