Did you know that America consumes more electricity than any other country in the world? How do we change that? Each one of us has to start changing our own habits. Those small changes will compound into big ones.
First, you should get your hands on a Kill A Watt. You can sometimes rent these from your local library, but most home improvement stores like Home Depot should carry them. You plug the unit into any wall receptacle you have. You then plug your appliances into it. It will tell you how much electricity is being used whether it is on or off! You will be in for some surprises when you try this out! You can quickly and easily find out what you need to start turning off and even unplugging every night.
Another way to save energy is to watch the thermostat in your house. A programmable thermostat will allow you to keep your house at a higher temperature when you are not home. A cheap version of these can be found at any home improvement store. However, if you want something with all the bells and whistles, you should check out the Eco-Bee Smart Thermostat. It costs about $385, and it is the most intuitive programmable thermostat out on the market. You are able to connect it to your home’s wireless network and be able to tweak it from any internet browser. It will even send you an email if something goes wrong! A cheaper way to cool your home off though is ceiling fans. You can turn them on in the rooms that you are in to lower the temperature. In the winter, you can change their direction and blow the warm air down into the room. Investing in some thermo- regulating bamboo clothing is a great way to stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter too. Even just adding a pair of bamboo socks or covering up with a bamboo blanket (if you are cold) can make a difference instead of adjusting the temperature in the room.
Changing the light bulbs in your house is an easy, high impact change you can make. LEDs are what are being recommended to save the most energy at this time. However, an even easier way to save money on lighting is to turn off the light when you leave the room!
The landscaping around your home can also help your energy costs. Large trees can shade your house from the summer sun. If you want to block the heat in the summer but not in the winter, you should use deciduous trees. To provide continuous shade for your house, you should plant dense evergreen trees or shrubs. Planting shrubs, bushes, and vines next to your house also creates dead air spaces that insulate your home in both winter and summer.
Bamboo Wrap Top
These are some simple yet easy changes that can be made in and around your home to save on energy. One day, it would be nice for the United States to be known for consuming the least amount of energy rather than the most.
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