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Energy Consumption: Tips for Decreasing Usage

May 20, 2021

The world is shifting off from fossil fuels, and that includes the energy consumed in your home. With so many options for sustainable energy sources available today, it’s hard to know where to start with reducing your reliance on non-renewable resources. This blog post will focus on some of the most effective steps you can take towards decreasing your home’s consumption of electricity, natural gas and oil products.

1. Install a programmable thermostat

The average home consumes as much energy for heating and cooling per month as a new refrigerator. The most efficient way to reduce your electricity consumption is by adjusting the thermostat accordingly, based on the season. Many homes equipped with programmable thermostats can automatically adjust temperatures in response to weather forecasts or changes in occupancy levels throughout the day. Programmable thermostats can free you up to 20% on your utility bill each year; if you’re looking for ideas to cut energy costs at home without sacrificing comfort, invest in a programmable thermostat today.

2. Unplug electronics that aren’t in use

  • Unplug electronics when they’re not in use. It means turning off the TV, video games, and computer monitors at night or while you’re away from home to reduce energy consumption.
  • Use a power strip so that all your devices can get turned off with one switch (or plug).
  • For those who worry about their batteries malfunctioning due to lack of use: consider leaving an old cell phone plugged in and charging on low for emergencies only—it will last longer than you might think.
  • For electronics in use, try to keep them on “standby” mode if possible (this is the lowest level of power) or turn them off automatically after a certain amount of time without input from the user.

 

3. Turn off lights when leaving rooms for a short time, or install motion sensors to turn them on automatically.

4. Use natural light during the day instead of turning on lamps or overhead lights.

5. Replace incandescent bulbs with LED bulbs for energy efficiency and lower power bills.

  • Find out the amount of energy your home uses in a year. To do this, multiply how many hours per day you use electricity by what type (e.g., kilowatt or kWh). Then divide this figure by 1000 to get KWH/year.
  • Purchase LED bulbs for every light fixture and replace them as needed. Consider purchasing LEDs with different colour temperatures outside during the daytime and inside at night time without being too harsh on the eyes.
  • Install motion sensor lights outdoors, so they only turn on when someone is nearby rather than shining all the time, which wastes power needlessly if no one is around anyway.
  • Switching from 60-watt incandescent bulbs to 25 LED light bulbs can reduce your electricity consumption by about 78%.

 

6. Get an estimate from your utility company about how much it costs to run your appliances each month, so you know which ones cost more than others. Knowing an estimation will help you reduce your energy consumption.

Energy Controls System (ECS) is the company you need to design a personalized energy savings plan to reduce energy consumption. We bring US energy savings to thousands of clients through top-notch services and train you to save energy by efficiently operating the system. If you’re seeking an affordable way to reduce your carbon footprint, we are here to help! Get in touch with us now so that one of our experts can show you what ECS has done for others across the country.