Five Ways to Cut Down on Energy Use at Home

Are you worried about the environment and the posterity of our species on Earth? You're not alone. If you're conscious of your impact on the climate, the amount of greenhouse gasses you are responsible for pumping into the atmosphere, and the overall warming of our planet, you probably feel powerless sometimes.

Large corporations make the biggest impact on the atmosphere, but everyone is culpable for their actions. When you are trying to limit your impact on the environment, you should cut down on the energy you are using at home. Here are five ways how.

The Thermostat

The thermostat is one of the most wasteful parts of the home. Modern society promotes the idea that you should always be comfortable in your own home, and that to maximize your comfort you should be able to make your home any temperature you'd like. This does lead to a lot of waste, however. Of course, you could use your thermostat less, but you can also invest in an upgrade with a smart thermostat.

Smart thermostats provide the ability to control the temperature of your house wherever you are from your smartphone. This allows you to keep the thermostat off for most of the day. When you are on your way home you can turn on the thermostat and set it to the temperature that you prefer. Then, you will be able to save money on your electricity bills while lowering your impact on the environment and atmosphere of the planet.

Insulate

Finally, you should try your best to insulate your home. First, go to the attic and make sure your insulation isn't falling apart. Then, check your doors and windows. Are they properly sealed? Could they be sealed tighter? It doesn't matter how much air you pump through the house, if the cold or heat is getting out you will pay a lot more in your gas and power bills by running the thermostat needlessly.

The Gym

Do you have a gym in your home? Depending on how many pieces of equipment you have, whether you keep them on, and if they're plugged in, your home gym can have a huge impact on the amount of electricity you are using. One way to cut down on this power usage at home is to become a member of a gym.

Not only will you avoid paying for the power, but you can also avoid paying for the infrastructure. You could even sell some of the equipment. Try a gym free trial. A gym membership is valuable because it will also get you out of the house and focused on your work out while you're there. Next time you are thinking about your power bills, consider your home gym.

The Appliances

Like smart thermostats, there are plenty of other appliances that come in a smart and energy-saving alternative. For example, smart washers use less water and power. Smart refrigerators save power and food. Smart dryers cut down on energy use. If you think of a smart appliance, it probably exists. Energy-efficiency is a market all its own. These appliances even have an Energy Star certification that lets you know when an appliance saves more power than the average product.

The Lights

Traditional incandescent light bulbs use a lot more energy than LED lights. LEDs may be more expensive, but they pay for themselves in no time. Not only do LEDs last a lot longer, but they also consistently use less energy-lowering your bills and decreasing your impact on the environment. Of course, you should always turn the lights off when you aren't using them-whether you are using LEDs or not. Look around at how many lights you have. Switching them all over to LEDs will make a difference.

Cutting down on your energy use in the home isn't easy, but there are plenty of ways to get it done. Between turning off the lights and electronics, unplugging them, and upgrading to appliances that will save energy for you, you can make a difference by mitigating your impact on the environment while saving money. The world is changing, and it is necessary for the whole world to change the way we engage with power. Be the change you want to see.