We’re swiftly approaching the coldest months of the year, and with inflation rising, we’re all looking for ways to get lower electricity bills. If that’s your case, energy conservation might be the best answer to get consistent savings on your monthly bills while also having a positive impact on the environment – and reducing your carbon footprint.
As adventurous as you might think you are, we’re sure you just cannot imagine a life without energy. Energy is a central part of our lives, from using whatever device you might be used to reading this article to keep you warm and cozy. But unfortunately, we will soon run out of energy resources if we continue to use them at their current pace of depletion. Let’s start with some definitions:
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What is energy conservation?
The decision and practice of consciously consuming less energy are referred to as energy conservation. Turning off the light when you leave a room, unplugging equipment when not in use, and walking instead of driving are all ways to save energy. People save energy for two significant reasons: to have more control over their energy bills and to minimize the burden on the earth’s natural resources.
Energy conservation is not the same as the law of conservation of energy. Check out this video to know how they work:
Energy Conservation vs. Energy Efficiency: a strong couple for energy savings
Energy conservation is when you’re purposefully using less energy in your daily routines. On the other hand, energy efficiency refers to using less energy to perform the same activity. Getting energy savings is a combination of both energy conservation and energy efficiency.
As an example, you see how LED lightbulbs are more energy-efficient than incandescent lights, as they use much less energy to perform the same activity; you’ll use less energy because the lightbulbs are more efficient, not because you’re not using them as often. Energy conservation means changing behaviors towards using less energy, and energy efficiency mean using less energy to achieve the same results.
Another example of energy conservation vs. energy efficiency is the use of an elevator. If you use the stairs instead of an elevator, you’re conserving energy. If you use it with 3 more people, you’re being energy efficient.
So… Let’s begin!
By adopting a few easy lifestyle changes, you may transform acts of energy conservation into significant savings. With so many energy-saving options available, you can now choose which techniques and equipment are best for you. We recommend that you get your energy conservation game up and running with these practical tips.
1. Start with an energy audit
An energy audit of your house is a wonderful place to start. Look for easy methods to save energy around you. Take notes, so you don’t have to tackle everything at once. The goal is to avoid becoming overwhelmed. Take one tiny step at a time, and you’ll soon be feeling fantastic about your energy-saving decisions.
2. Turn off the lights
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You’ve probably heard your mom screaming at you plenty of times, asking you to turn off the lights as a tip of energy conservation. Well, the news is you should – or at least most of the time. You will be surprised to know that the type of lightbulbs you have, determines whether you should – or shouldn’t – turn on and off the lights as often. Or if it’s just easier to let them on.
The US Department of Energy has a comprehensive guide explaining when to turn off your lights, so feel free to check it out. For this article’s sake, we’ll just outline some basics:
- - Incandescent lights should be turned off whenever not in use.
- - Halogen lights should be turned off whenever they’re not needed.
- - CFL lights are more efficient than the previous ones, so to conserve energy, bear in mind: Turn them off if you leave the space for 15 mins or more. Their working life is determined by how many times they’re switched on and off, so turning doing so every 5 mins can be counterproductive.
- - LED lights are the most effective of them all, and their life doesn’t rely on how many times you turn them on. You can turn them on and off and save on energy consumption.
3. Carpool, commute by non/fueled transport means
Do you live near your colleagues? Have you seen the same people at the bus stop repeatedly? Carpooling lets you share a journey to a destination and take numerous forms, including informal carpooling and real-time carpooling. Carpooling is frequently connected with several social advantages since it decreases the number of vehicles required by passengers, including:
- - Less consumption of energy and gas emissions.
- - Less traffic.
- - Reduces the demand for parking & infrastructure.
4. Unplug the appliances you’re not using, or use smart power strips
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If you aren’t new to our blog, you’ve probably heard about those unwanted energy vampires. No, they’re not only around on Halloween; they’re up and running all year long. We have an entire article about how to save money in the fall, and they’re certainly one of our top pieces of advice.
Some gadgets should be turned off altogether since they use energy even when not in use, in that standby mode that you’ve probably heard of. While it is preferable to turn down the heat rather than turn it off (since places must be heated to some degree), many appliances and equipment should be disconnected or switched off when not in use.
Turning off a ceiling fan or air conditioner while leaving a room and turning off the television when no one is viewing it may help save a lot of energy. With TV, stereos, pcs, laptops, microwaves, specifically, try to disconnect them or plug them into a power strip and turn it off whenever not in use, as they drain energy from the electrical grid whenever they’re connected into a wall.
5. Try line drying your clothes
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There are plenty of proven benefits of line drying your clothes; it whitens whites, avoids static, gives the clothes a fresh smell, and makes them last longer. However, these two energy conservation benefits are much more impactful: it’s great for the environment and great for your pocketbook. We have an entire article about saving money while doing laundry, in case you’d like to look at it.
6. Keep your appliances in shape with some maintenance
One of the best energy conservation tips is to keep your devices in good condition. From HVAC to fridges, having them in tip-top shape will help you get significant savings all year long. Air filters for your cooling and heating systems should be cleaned or replaced regularly. To avoid energy waste, keep your refrigerator coils clean.
7. Try doing things by yourself
Using your own hands – or legs – instead of a machine to complete the same work can help energy conservation and save energy. This may include walking or bicycling instead of driving whenever feasible, using a hand saw instead of an electric saw, or utilizing a push mower instead of a gas lawnmower.
Doing things yourself can result in significant energy savings over time, and you can get even some health benefits by keeping yourself active. Consider how much fuel and associated energy you would save by walking or riding your bike to work or your local grocery shop instead of using your car.
8. Map out your expenses
Knowing exactly how much you’re using and where you’re using it can help you understand if there are some places where you can cut your energy consumption and therefore increase energy conservation. This is a way to know why your bill is so high and to start lowering them month by month.
9. Avoid sneak peeking into ovens and fridges
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Remember those times when your mom would freak out if she found out you left the fridge open? Well, she was right; each time you open your fridge or oven, the temperature changes to around 20 to 40 degrees. Depending on the situation, there is cold air scaping, or hot, making it harder for the appliance to work.
10. Try microwaves over ovens
Microwaves are actually less expensive to run than ovens since they cook meals in a fraction of the time. An oven-cooked dinner is always more nutritious than a microwave-ready meal, but from an energy-saving standpoint, you have our blessing! Here are two tips in case you would like to use the oven:
- Particularly in the winter, leave the oven door open after you finish cooking to warm the house.
- Cooking meals together as a family will save you from turning on the oven for just one jacket potato.
If you have more energy conservation tips, feel free to share them with us in the comment section below. Together we will get you to lower energy bills all year round. To ensure that you are at the cheapest electricity rate, use an energy marketplace like ours. It’s actually pretty simple — we take care of everything. You simply need to know your electricity supplier, your current plan, and the number of kWh used in the previous 12 months – your landlord or energy company should be able to provide you with all of this information.
Or simply give us a call at 833-762-0555, you will find out if there’s a rate that may benefit you more than your current one. At Power Choice Now, finding a new energy supplier is straightforward. As a client, you benefit from competitive energy markets.
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