Taking steps to reduce energy consumption helps save money and preserves the environment. This big list of 100 ways to save energy at home will help one do these things.
Summary: Try one or more of these conservation methods. Changing behavior and habits is not difficult with practice and time. Just have clear goals, desire and discipline. Don’t be afraid to try new things.
Designing your home to become energy-efficient is perhaps best. Another great practice is to educate the entire family. Teach your kids to be responsible for their consumption. This will make them more conscious, allowing them to build practical thinking toward this goal. Indeed, a concerted effort will provide more impact than singular action alone.
100 Ways To Conserve Energy At Home
Saving comes in many forms. Begin with one area and grow from there. Habitual practice comes easy over time.
1. Be Conscious of Energy Usage
This will enlighten you to understand how much energy is consumed. It’s best to look around rooms and assess how much appliances and electronic devices are used in total.
This beginning step will help pinpoint which ones contribute most to the electric bill. When looking to save income, being energy-conscious will improve the quality of your life.
2. Change Washing Habits
Scheduling a regular laundry day helps one to only wash a full amount of clothes with less consumption overall. Changing your day-to-day habits can help save.
The same goes for washing dishes. Wait till they’ve stacked in the dishwasher plenty. Run these devices minimally to bring savings over time.
3. Don’t Rely on Convenience
Appliances make life easier but go through much power. Make it a habit to perform activities with purpose.
For each power-using action, think over if an act could be done manually instead of by using a machine. Don’t depend on automatic machines which devour a great amount of power. Put in a bit of time to save money.
4. Stay Away From Gadgets
Detox from gadgets to help improve one’s lifestyle, feel better naturally, and save energy. Take time to enjoy physical activities and let devices rest for a while. It’s not easy, but it’s a healthy thing to do and has benefits not only for your wellness but for the condition of several devices.
5. Do Manual Household Chores
Do things manually. For example, sweep instead of vacuuming. Try a pale with rags and water for cleaning house, instead of machinery. If loving to clean every day, you could be spending a lot of money using cleaning equipment.
6. Wake Up Very Early
This one action will let you become more active during the day. When the mind is more alert, having appreciation for life becomes fulfilling.
Being more alert to the possibilities of savings can come from a healthy state of mind. This in turn leads to possibilities for change one may not have considered.
7. Read More Books
It’s better to borrow or purchase physical books whenever possible because too much exposure to radiation produced by gadgets is harmful. Of course, this cuts power usage.
8. Alternatives For Warmth
Exercising is a must no matter what the season is. Although tricky with cold weather present, having the courage to get out of bed will help you feel warmer and forget about the heater.
Second, wearing thick jackets or several layers of clothes can help reduce heater usage. The bottom line is not to depend on the heater to keep warm. There are other ways to generate heat naturally!
9. The Sweat Solution
We hate sweating because it brings bad odor. However, sweating has a lot of benefits. Every time you feel hot, take time to sweat and don’t just turn on your air conditioner. Sweat has the advantage of improving mood alongside giving a bacterial cleansing of the body.
10. Turn Off the Treadmill
If you love to burn weight by walking or running, doing either outside or on some nearby track would be more beneficial. When you purchase a treadmill, the cost doesn’t stop there. Unless you bought a manual treadmill, your equipment consumes power every time it’s used.
11. Use a Laptop Instead
One way to reduce energy is to avoid using the desktop computer. A laptop is more energy-efficient since it may require less power to operate. Just make sure to shut it down when not being used, to avoid wasting electricity since background apps work even while in sleep mode.
12. Avoid Using Game Consoles
The energy usage of a game console can be quite high. Likewise, this depends on the type and age of the device. Make sure to know your device’s wattage and unplug when not in use. Do not overindulge in video games as this activity promotes an unhealthy and sedentary lifestyle.
Play learning board games having educational advantages over empty-minded video games. Or try going outdoors, which brings fresh air, curiosity about life, and even health benefits such as Vitamin D from sunlight.
13. Heat Water Only if Necessary
For some, a water heater can cost a few bucks to more than twenty per month. This is especially true for a heater that uses a tank. When heated water is necessary, the stove may work better if you only need a small amount or can mix this with cold water.
Ways To Reduce Energy Consumption At Home
Cutting your energy consumption at home can be accomplished through small changes. Most of the time, these ways require no cost and are easy to do. There are a bunch of energy-saving alternatives that you can apply at home. But if you have extra money, small investments in home improvements can significantly reduce your electric bill in the long run. And so let’s continue with this big list of 100 ways to save energy at home.
14. Make Family Members Accountable
Get everyone involved. There are different ways to reduce energy consumption at home. The best and easiest way to achieve this is to make everyone involved.
Having dependent kids can add to energy consumption because of their endless video game sessions. One way to change this behavior is to let them know how much electricity they are using. Also, if they are of legal age then make them pay for their consumption.
15. Grow Fruits and Vegetables
Try to grow your own fruits and veggies, helping to save trips to the grocery store. This activity reduces food costs also.
Buying in bulk can help you save time, energy and reduce waste. Just make sure to buy what you only need. If the products expire before you can use them, you just generate more waste.
16. Accomplish Chores Together
Doing chore activities together will help save energy because this lessens the need to turn appliances on many times. To make this happen, put up a regular cleaning schedule and notify everyone about it.
Washing and drying dishes by hand together is one example. Even washing a vehicle together may cut out some water usage. Make sure everyone gets their fair share of work!
17. Install Lighting Devices
Light controllers such as light switches with dimming functions help save energy by utilizing only the appropriate amount of light needed. Here, you reduce lighting in areas not usually used, and concentrate where you do most of your work. You can further enhance these by using light timers or motion detectors.
18. Harvest Cool Season Daylight
Open drapes, blinds, or curtains. Harnessing light allows you to save electrical energy and by letting your home feel warm during cold seasons. This could also save heater energy usage.
19. Nevermind Upfront Price
Sometimes, being an energy saver requires costly investment, but the price could be worth it in the long run. Energy-efficient appliances are usually expensive at first, but they will not consume so much energy upon usage, so they eventually regain the money.
20. Assess Frequently Used Appliances
Ordinary ACs are efficient enough when rarely used. However, if you use them most of the time, they take up a lot of energy. Cooling fans can help.
If relying on an air conditioner, choose inverter types to lessen your time usage. They can be used all the time with minimal energy cost. Although these ramp up strong in the beginning, they throttle down after reaching the desired temperature.
21. Water Recycle
Collect water used for bathing, laundry, or washing whenever possible. This water can be recycled for watering the garden and plants.
A more practical way involves large bins that capture water on a rainy day. Just buy a few multiple-gallon bins with lids. Once collected, keep them outdoors somewhere and use them when the lawn needs watering again.
22. Bare Floor Winter Rugs
For added insulation during the cold season, cover your floor with carpets or rugs to minimize the low temperature brought about by the tile floor. This action will help in staying warmer. Just remember to remove them when summertime comes as they absorb so much heat.
23. Smart Technology Investment
The advent of technology offers emerging tools that help control things instantly and in more efficient ways. Nowadays, a smart assistant can help you control household appliances wherever you are. This is most useful for people who want to automate their homes.
24. Use Alexa or Google Home
Alexa is a virtual assistant AI device introduced by Amazon. It is voice-controlled, which can translate words and commands into actions. You can command it to turn your lights or TV off and adjust your thermostat with just a few words. Google Home is another version to use, and it has the same functions mostly.
25. Set Child Limitations
One way to effectively teach your kids to reduce their energy consumption is by setting limits. Establish some rules with using their gadgets. For example, tell them not to use these during meals or some hours before bedtime. Also, try to schedule a tech-free time and assign a particular space in the house where no one is supposed to use their phones.
By teaching energy discipline, kids and young adults learn values to take with them later in life. Educate them about the effects of too much exposure to screens and help them reduce their screen time. As a parent, make sure to become a role model on healthy electronic use.
26. Utilize Manual Timers
Many modern day appliances have manual timer options. Set these to save energy. This will prevent overusing devices since they automatically shut down after the scheduled period.
27. Plug-in Timer Controls
These can even be external add-on control devices. For instance, power strips are now able to come with timer control options.
Using electric time controls is easy and straightforward. These can be used for lights and appliances. For instance, it can keep your crockpot off for a few hours and then turn it on automatically. They provide excellent countdown features and are easily programmable.
Integrating timer controls and setting schedules during the day and night can cut your energy usage by half. This is possible because your electronic devices automatically shut off even when plugged in.
28. Apply House Optimal Engineering
Before you build your house, consider the concept of advanced house framing. This is low-cost compared to conventional framing. It helps improve energy efficiency by applying maximum insulation in your home.
29. Consider a Cooling Roof
Cool roofs reflect light effectively. This type helps reduce heat absorption and maintain an average temperature. Making your standard roof into one will save you energy and money by using fewer cooling units. There are different ways to create cool roofs. You can use various reflective materials such as paint, sheet, shingle, or tile.
Green roofs are another type of cool roof. These are made by putting trees and plants on your roof. They are not only energy-efficient, but they also help regulate rainwater. These are usually present in urban areas, and they provide excellent insulation and a significant cooling effect.
30. Apply Drain-Water Heat Recovery
This kind of thing may cost a few hundred dollars to begin. The water you use every time you shower, wash your clothes or dishes, or enjoy bathtubs, can be stored for later use.
The drain-water heat recovery technology works by recovering heat from used hot water. It preheats water by making use of the warm water that flows in the pipe. This process helps cut the energy needed to heat the water based on the desired temperature.
31. Unplug Everything When Leaving
This is both for house safety and energy saving. Going on a holiday vacation is fun, but not when you receive a high electric bill after the trip. Before leaving your home, make sure to turn off all devices and unplug them totally.
32. Reduce Ironing Time
Spending less time with your iron can help you save energy. There are different laundry hacks that you can do to achieve this. For one, use laundry bags to avoid wrinkling inside the washing machine. Second, shake your clothes after removing them from the washer. Third, take them immediately out of the dryer to prevent the formation of wrinkles. Lastly, hang them properly and then fold them right away once dry.
33. Careful With Power Strips
Power strips cut the power off and can detect devices even in standby mode. They are known to be energy savers. But when these are used in overloading electrical outlets, they can lead to wasting of electricity. These can cost you more money because your devices are prone to consume vampire power.
34. Drain The Water Tank
Your water heater will function efficiently only when it is properly maintained and cleaned. That’s why it is advisable to drain some water from your water tank every quarter of the year. This will remove sediment and dirt that have accumulated. This is important because such things may obstruct the flow and transfer of heat.
35. Plant A Windbreak
This one may save a bit on the heater or air conditioning usage.
Windbreak is a technique that involves the linear planting of trees. As the word implies, it works by making wind move slower than its average speed. This can help regulate atmospheric temperature by reducing heat during summer and lowering wind chill in the winter. Besides, it is beneficial in enriching soil quality which is ideal for planting crops and raising livestock.
The first thing to do in planting the windbreak is to become knowledgeable of your chosen trees and shrubs. Know their mature height because the distance you will be placing them must be twice or thrice this length. Second, it is advisable to pick dense evergreens with low crowns because they can effectively disrupt wind at low levels. They must be strategically planted in the north or northwest portion of your house for better effect.
36. Use Gas-Powered Mowers
Gas-powered mowers are usually cheaper. An electric mower can be powered by batteries or direct electricity in which it is plugged in while running. But recharging takes a lot of time, and replacing batteries from time to time can be expensive. Thus, gas lawn mowers are more economical for either large or small lawns. However, the old-fashioned way, which uses the manual version of push-and-pull, can be the most energy-saving of all.
37. Use The Space Heater
A centralized heating system can be costly even if it is safer to use. It consumes a lot of energy as it takes a lot of time to warm an entire house. Space heaters are portable and practical for small areas. They can heat specific regions of your home without warming the whole place. They can be used in condos, apartments, and small rooms.
One disadvantage of using them is that they are considered fire hazards. Don’t use them in heating huge areas and for a long time because it will cost you more and make them prone to damage. Second, don’t leave them unattended for long.
38. Don’t Preheat The Oven
Frequently, most people preheat the oven to reach the desired temperature before cooking. But this is not always necessary. It only wastes your time and electricity. Unless you’re baking, it will only heat the air, which goes away once you open the door and place your food inside.
One solution is to preheat with an oven timer. This will bring you back when the oven is precisely ready, thereby cutting costs.
39. Install an LHP (Loop Heat Pipe)
LHPs are heat-transfer mechanisms that work through capillary action. They can efficiently utilize high-temperature levels from a source and conduct it into a radiator. This helps conserve energy because they prevent hot water from leaving the system when not in use.
They are similar to traditional heat pipes, but these use a two-phase in-line trap for conveying heat. Installing these don’t take many resources, and they can effectively operate against gravity and over a long distance.
40. Use an Ink-Jet Printer
If you use a laser printer and utilize it for low-volume printing, you waste an incredible amount of energy. Switching to ink-jet printers is more practical for home users. Their power consumption is about 40 watts, while laser types work on an average of 400 watts. That is 10 times less for your energy usage!
If you are wondering why laser printers consume more electricity, they require high temperatures to start working. Please don’t invest in such devices for home use because they need high-energy costs.
41. Apply Low-E (Low Emissivity) Coating
If your glass windows are not adequately insulated and don’t have coverings, consider applying a low-E coating or self-adhesive film. This type of coating was made to limit heat absorption from the sun’s UV and infrared rays while allowing the passage of visible light. Hence, your house will be naturally bright and cool. Likewise, it can reduce heat loss during the winter months.
Low-E coating works by reradiating light and blocking it. This is commonly added on one side of the glass window pane. It’s recommended to place coating on the inside facing the outside pane’s surface to block summer heat efficiently in temperate climates.
42. Food List For The Refrigerator
Keeping track of the items inside your fridge helps you prevent wasting food. As an alternative bonus, this activity may also let your fridge maximize its energy usage by improving airflow. Besides, this allows energy conservation by limiting the generation of garbage. Waste needs fuel and energy during transport, disposal, and processing.
43. Compost Biodegradable Waste
Composting kitchen waste and other biodegradable garbage such as fruit peels and spoiled food provides a great fertilizer source for plants. Second, it limits lousy odor inside your home. Third, this activity lets you save energy from using an electric waste processor.
44. Skip The Electric Pasta Maker
A manual pasta maker is cheaper than an electric one. It is also more appropriate in making noodles thin, long, and flat. Another advantage of manual models is that they are easier to clean. You can also make pasta by hand without the use of machines. A rolling pin or a wine bottle together with a knife will do the same.
45. Skip The Electric Knife
Traditional knives are the same as electric knives. For home use, an electric knife is not practical. Not only does it require energy, but it is also difficult to clean, maintain, and operate. That’s why it is better to invest in nonelectric knives. Just sharpen them from time to time to ensure good quality and a longer lifespan.
46. Avoid Using a Food Dehydrator
Dehydrator machines are used to preserve food by removing moisture. Unless you don’t use it regularly for large batches of food, it will only cost you too much energy and money to operate.
Some models may consume more electricity than others. There are natural methods of drying, and these include the sun, fire, or air drying. These will make your food last longer while maintaining nutrient content and taste.
If you cannot help to use one, make sure to buy the right size based on drying needs. Also, familiarize yourself with the energy-efficient options like heat and temperature regulators and also to maximize the space inside the machine.
47. Forget The Hot Tub
A hot tub with 5,000 watts of power running for two hours each day will cost you about 30 dollars a month. Its running cost may further increase the more that you use it. That’s a lot of money over time.
If you can’t help using it, avoid turning it off to avoid consuming energy when reheating. This applies if you’re going to have a session or two during the day.
Also, choose the right size to make use of the lowest possible power rating. You should also clean it regularly and apply proper insulation to keep it running at as low cost as possible.
48. Reduce Pool’s Pumping Cost
On average, a pool pump with some great horsepower and working continuously in a day will add up to more than 100 bucks to your electric bill. You can reduce this by using a small and energy-efficient pump.
Using a small pump also helps to limit its running time and speed. If possible, set up pool timers. Second, keep it clean and well-maintained to allow efficient water circulation. Third, reduce evaporation by installing a pool cover.
49. Get Efficient Swimming Pool Heating
The cost of heating a pool can go toward the hundreds if left unrestrained. This is especially true for large ones. One way to reduce energy consumed here is to use solar covers. This helps retain heat and prevent evaporation. You can also install a windproof enclosure or place solar sun rings on. There are liquid solar pool covers that are also widely used for this purpose.
50. Reduce Indoor Humidity With Dehumidifier
There are different ways to dehumidify your home naturally without the use of an electronic device. For example, proper ventilation prevents moisture from forming. Second, place excellent absorbent materials such as charcoal briquettes and rock salt in different areas of your home. Third, improve airflow inside your home to keep your air fresh and out of humidity.
51. Humidify The House Without Humidifier
Humidifiers provide a better indoor air atmosphere, but they can be costly. It is not only their purchase price that is expensive but also their running cost. There are more energy-efficient hacks in humidifying your home.
One way is to have the door open when bathing or showering to distribute the moisture coming from hot water. Another way is to cook food on a stovetop to use the steam being released while cooking. Thirdly, one could try placing cold water in front of a blowing fan.
52. Use a Bread Maker With No Oven
If you love making loaves, using a bread maker may help save more energy than an oven. For the record, this machine may operate with less than 50% electricity or more compared to ranges. But if you’re baking large batches of different bread types, a standard oven is more energy-efficient to use.
53. No Electric Wine Opener
Automatic wine openers are handier and easier to use, but they are not practical. Why would you spend money on these expensive devices if they have cheaper alternatives? Besides, a corkscrew won’t have you pay for electricity every time you use it. You can also use this option everywhere you are, even during your camping where there is no available electricity.
54. No Electric Can Opener
It’s costly to buy an electric can opener, and it doesn’t help you save energy. Besides, a manual opener is easier to maintain and won’t take too much of your money to repair or replace once damaged. This device is only worth it for people with certain medical conditions such as arthritis.
55. No Electric Salt or Pepper Grinders
Manual salt and pepper grinders are easy enough to use without complaint. These require no real work whatsoever. The twisting effort doesn’t take a lot of effort unless you have an existing medical condition. Electric ones may become unreliable since they can stop any time once the battery dies.
56. Boil Eggs Instead of Egg Cooker
Boiling eggs in a pot consumes less energy. An egg cooker is just a waste of money and power. Buying one leads to an additional item rarely used in your kitchen. So skip it and opt for the easy way.
57. Don’t Buy a Breakfast Station Machine
This all-in-one appliance may be pleasing to an aesthetic person but not to an energy-saver individual. Every part of it consumes a considerable amount of energy. And running an oven toaster, coffee maker, and egg and bacon cooker all at once can be electrically expensive.
58. Save With a Yogurt Maker
Yogurt makers are energy-efficient for home use. These electrically operated machines work with less than 10 watts. However, they can only make small amounts of yogurt. But that’s more practical compared to using an instant pot which is around 1000 watts.
59. Don’t Use Oversized Rice Cooker
The rice cooker you should be using at home is one that fits the family size. Also, make sure that it’s fully covered when running and use the “Keep Warm” option to maintain the heat if you do not consume it right away. For greater efficiency, clean it after use to ensure it’s free from dirt that may obstruct heat conduction.
60. Prepare Food By Hand
Learn excellent knife skills. Using an electric food processor or chopper can be a waste if needing small food portions. Slicing and preparing your ingredients by hand is more enjoyable and serves as a stress reliever. Besides, cleaning electrical devices can be a pain.
61. Use Window Awnings
During summer, the best way to reduce your electric bill is to find ways to keep the heat out of your home. Awnings are flexible fixtures that can help reduce solar heat gain in hot weather.
Likewise, you can remove them to let more light and heat inside the house during the winter months. Choose the ones that are water-repellent and mildew-resistant for a more significant effect.
62. Bleed The Radiators
Radiators are old-fashion heaters that work through convection in transferring warm air in the surroundings. If you happen to have radiators, bleeding them regularly helps them function more efficiently. To further increase their efficiency, you can install reflector panels to maximize heat absorption. Also, rearrange your furniture in a way that doesn’t obstruct the flow of warm air.
63. Reduce The Exhaust Fans
You must avoid letting the exhaust fans present in your bathroom, kitchen, or any place inside the house run for too long. Switch them off right away after clearing the odor or getting rid of the hot and humid air.
64. Limit Garden Hose and Sprinklers
These water sources will consume gallons of fluid if left on for hours. That’s way larger than the volume of water you need each day.
Watering your plants with a bucket or watering container may be more energy-efficient and cost-effective. Watering the lawn by hand for a few minutes may cut back significant water usage.
65. Use Evaporative Cooler Alternative
Air conditioner units are costly to run. Evaporative coolers provide an alternative, as they work by using materials such as pads immersed in water to cool the air. That’s why they are also called swamp coolers. The evaporation of water produces low air temperature and cools your home.
Such a device runs for as low as 60 watts, though most use up to 500 watts. This figure is much lower when compared with air conditioning. Air conditioning can also cost three times the money amount. This is especially true in places where the climate has hot air and low humidity.
66. Apply a Central Heat Inhibitor
A central heating inhibitor is a chemical added to the heating system which prevents rust formation. It allows your system to run smoothly. Make sure to add only enough volume of this solution for better protection.
To apply this formula, turn the device off and drain the system. Add the inhibitor once you have closed the drain valve and placed the dosing adaptor in the plug. Tighten the plug once done and then turn the valves on. Change the solution annually to ensure that your machine is working efficiently.
67. Limit UV (ultraviolet) Device Usage
In this time of the pandemic, disinfection is critical. Nowadays, sterilizer and disinfecting machines have become widely available in the market. UV light devices consume little energy, but the cost of electricity can build up when you use it all the time. Besides, using soft microfiber cloths or cotton, alcohol, and soap is more effective and energy-efficient in sanitizing gadgets and other stuff.
68. Use Heat Pump Dryers
Compared to traditional garment dryers, heat pump dryers are more energy-efficient. More than 50% of electricity can be saved, especially for households that use cloth dryers a lot. Heat pump dryers work by taking, heating, and then recirculating surrounding air inside.
69. Utilize The Blue Flame
Higher settings do the trick here. For gas-operated appliances, always utilize the blue flame. This type of flame is more energy-efficient than the yellow one. It allows quick heating without consuming a large amount of fuel.
70. Enroll in Community Solar Programs
Installing solar panels on your roof can be very expensive. But there are ways to make it more affordable. One of which is through community solar programs. These are commonly offered by providing a lease or purchase on a specific portion of the operating cost.
To make these accessible for everyone, the overall expense of purchasing and installing solar energy is reduced by dividing it between all customers. This is also applicable for non-residential areas such as business establishments and rental properties.
71. Harvest Rainwater
A hundred square foot roof can accommodate gallons of rainwater. Harvesting rainwater allows you to use water for free and save energy. You can utilize this in watering your garden and plants. If treated with purifying solutions, you can also use it for drinking.
Setting your rain harvesting system doesn’t have to be costly. A rainwater collector tank is not necessary if you’re trying to save money. You can make your collector system through a do-it-yourself rain barrel.
72. Keep Garage Door Closed
Leaving the garage door open is not only a threat to security but a waste of energy as well. By keeping it close, you help cooling and heating units to function efficiently.
This step helps maintain a higher temperature during winter and keeps hot air from coming inside during summertime. You may also invest in an intelligent and energy-efficient pre-insulated garage door with automatic controller if your budget permits. This can actually help lower the overall electric bill.
73. Reduce Garage Clutter
Maintaining an organized and clean garage promotes efficient energy use in the house. This prevents pests from infiltrating electric wires and pipes that may cause leakage if left unnoticed and untreated. You wouldn’t want damaged ducts to waste considerable energy.
74. Install a Smart Meter
Keeping track of energy usage in real-time will help regulate energy consumption. Installing a smart meter allows one to monitor electricity rates. This promotes better understanding and awareness of the energy usage of appliances and other electronic devices. These devices are usually integrated with an energy management system that help reduce energy patterns.
75. Keep a Clean House
Keeping a house clean is beneficial for health and allows efficient energy usage. For example, cleaning windows allows maximum passage of sunlight. This lets one go with fewer lights and heating. Not only does cleanliness offer cost savings, but it also improves mood and well-being. Besides, decluttering and organizing is also fun!
How Can We Save Energy In Our Daily Life?
Conserving energy is not just about investing in energy-efficient devices and fixtures, but also about changing perspective. For one, don’t presume there’s an endless source of energy. Second, break your lavish and wasteful habits. Third, apply the following tips to your daily life.
76. Be Disciplined with Green Thinking
Have the appropriate mindset. Developing habits over time help the whole process be easygoing. If you have strong desire, developing discipline helps.
You should become more responsible and take every chance to prevent wasting of resources. Besides, being eco-friendly allows you to make wise decisions in life. For instance, you understand that every small step counts.
77. Walk or Bike Ride
Driving less is another way to reduce power usage in daily life. Walking is best for your health since it’s a great exercise. Also, it reduces your carbon footprint. Maybe make this a habit to just walk or ride your bicycle when the destination is nearby. These two ways use only bodily power and consume no other forms of environment-damaging energy.
78. Buy Only Necessary Things
Acquiring devices more than needed is vacuous. You spend money upon purchase, operation, and maintenance. Having multiple gadgets can be unnecessary and wasteful. Think before you buy something. Remember also that the environment may be damaged through the transport and disposal of electronics.
79. Let Hair Dry Naturally
A single hairdryer can take 500 watts to run for half an hour. Hence, you could end up paying almost 30 bucks a year when you use it every day. That’s only for single use. But what if everyone in the house uses this? Just imagine how much it contributes to the electric bill. Letting hair dry off naturally lets power savings occur.
80. Limit Hair Straightener Usage
On average, a hair straightener works on 100 watts of power. But this still depends on the brand, type, and the level of temperature you set it on. Energy consumption can go higher when used more than once a day. If it’s really needed and the device has temperature control, set it to the lowest level.
81. Use Hair Rollers Instead
The amount of electricity used by hair curlers is about 400 watts. Understand that processes in which electricity is turned into heat end up consuming a lot of energy. Leaving this device on for hours can be expensive.
Likewise, the heating time it takes uses up even more power, and so the process is really inefficient. On the other hand, using hair rollers consumes no electricity, although this action takes longer to perform and for your hair to curl.
82. Get Rid of Electric Hot Airbrush
What’s the difference between a brush and an electric airbrush? Well, both serve the same purpose, but the latter consumes power. If wanting to save energy, be smart enough to categorize devices that you can live without.
83. Reduce Dishwasher Usage
Using a single cup or glass each day can help against energy waste. This action helps reduce the number of dishes needed to be washed and limits the need to run the dishwasher.
When an entire family watches dish usage, the dishwasher could even be run 1/2 the time. Have labeled cups and glasses to ensure each family member stays with the correct things.
84. Eat Leftovers Promptly
Don’t wait too long to consume leftovers. Throwing away leftovers is not suitable for the environment and overall energy used for environmental cleanliness.
Waste can reveal irresponsibility. Deciding to eat portions promptly frees up some space in the refrigerator. When the fridge is not overloaded, electricity it needs to operate will be minimized. Besides, leftover food takes less time and energy to prepare, saving the oven or microwave usage.
85. Use Public Transportation
If your destination is far and public transport is accessible, take advantage of this option. You may even want to do without owning a vehicle. Public transportation is one of the best ways to conserve energy and money.
This step easily outweighs the energy saving benefits of investing in efficient appliances. Also, it helps save the environment because carbon emission and other toxic gas produced by single passenger vehicles are reduced.
86. Use Stairs Instead of Elevator
Whenever possible, whether in the house or another building, taking stairs instead of the elevator is good exercise. This action is a productive way of strengthening muscles and improving fitness for free. No power is needed here.
87. Choose The Reusable Bags
Going with reusable bags rather than single-use plastic or paper ones helps reduce waste and conserve energy. For one, manufacturing these items consumes fuel and energy. Second, transporting bags requires power needs. Hence, eco-friendly bags promote a reduction in both production cost and waste.
88. Opt For Reusable Water Bottle
Prohibit plastic bottles at home. Tell the family to avoid buying bottled water. And if possible, whenever going outside the home, make it a habit to bring the reusable water bottle. Doing so will help save money and prohibit waste. This action protects the environment from pollution.
89. Washables Instead of Consumables
Always use washable and reusable items in the house. For instance, replace consumable tissue or cotton with reusable wiping products. Switch to cloth-based products in wiping dirt in the kitchen.
Performing these things lessens the need to buy products repeatedly and minimizes the waste being produced. Benefits include cutting expenses, protecting the environment, and saving energy by reducing production through companies abandoning what doesn’t work (if enough people demand change).
90. Buy Products With Less Packaging
The energy expenditure of manufacturers depends not only on products, but also on overall processing, packaging, and transportation. That’s why it’s essential to look for products that contain less packaging whenever you’re in the market or grocery stores. The wrappers and plastics being used require raw materials that are made with electrically-operated machines.
91. Buy Goods From Local Markets
One way to reduce power is to limit travel and fuel needs. This can be achieved by shopping at local farmer’s markets. These markets offer fresh products for low prices. This also promotes local products which boost the economy of your community. So help your trip savings, cost savings, and local community too!
92. Daily Habit of Recycling
Help the world out with this one. To properly segregate recycled things, set up bins for different items. Recycle paper, plastics, and more. Recycling is also applicable to older, worn-out, or inefficient appliances.
Recycling reduces the need to make new things from scratch and with less cost. One could also help the local community to be clean through collecting bottles and cans. Reducing the consumption of disposable bottles and cans is one of the best things to do to save energy.
Nowadays, there are mobile applications developed to make the return of cans or bottles more convenient. The recycling of paper may provide the same. You may also earn money from turning in things to a local service area.
93. Go Paperless or Use Recycled Paper
There is much energy used in the paper industry. For an individual, using less paper at home reduces household cost. If you need to print documents, use ones that are made from recycled materials. These are produced with less energy compared to papers made from virgin pulp or wood. Going with the recycled option is more efficient and provides ecological and economic advantages.
94. Unplug Wall Chargers
Not taking chargers out of the wall socket after charging gadgets is a bad habit. Even if devices are disconnected from the power supply, these may still consume energy. Also, overcharging not only leads to excessive energy usage but also depletes the battery life.
So break this habit and commit to efficient practices to prolong the lifespan of devices. And consider buying gadgets with rechargeable batteries, as this is more cost-effective and helps prevent more environmental waste.
95. Plan Errands Together
Limiting your travel saves time, fuel costs, and vehicle lifespan. Make it a practice to combine all your errands every time you go out. Also, plan your trips to take the shortest route possible.
96. Drive Safely Outdoors
Practicing safety precautions while driving not only spares one dangers or accidents on the road but also helps save fuel and energy. If you are an aggressive driver, you unnecessarily spend gas and money every time you speed up, accelerate, or put on hard brakes. Likewise, avoid idling. An idle vehicle increases fuel needs and toxic emission.
97. Minimize Energy Needs of Vehicle
Safe driving is not the only way to save power. One can also minimize fuel consumption by turning air conditioning off and opening windows instead.
Another option is to place items inside the backside trunk. For example, this reduces drag or avoids opposite forces from acting on the vehicle after loading things on the roof rack.
Also remove items that make your vehicle extra heavy. The car or truck just consumes more fuel when overloaded. If having more than one household vehicle, use the most fuel-efficient one. Have regular maintenance checkups to maximize efficiency.
98. Limit Meat Consumption
Stand up for living entities! Raising livestock can be quite an expensive process. The process takes a lot of land and water to raise cattle, pigs, chickens, and other livestock. This generates a lot of waste and contributes to pollution.
Limiting daily meat consumption helps save energy and money. Besides, this also prevents getting any emerging disease. Some have been shown to be significant threats to human health.
Through considering the life of a vegetarian or just a healthy eater, a lifestyle can totally be changed for the better. Benefits here include health, lower costs, less hospital visits, and perhaps even more.
99. Think of a Diet Change
There are several kinds of special diets that are more natural, plant-based, or healthy than ones involving modern consumption of unhealthy alternatives.
For example, making your diet meat-free is beneficial not only for health but personal energy usage also. Plant-based foods are grown with reduced expenses. They require much less energy in their production and preparation. Also, eating plants is more sustainable for the environment.
100. Commit To Your Goals
Beginning may be the hardest step to reach goals. But remember that small steps matter in reducing overall energy costs. Hope you find something among this list of 100 ways to save energy at home. Do everything on this list that applies, or pick a few options.
Make your plan on how to achieve savings. A checklist will help keep track of your progress. The best thing about saving energy is that this helps to both save money and improve well-being.
Conclusion
One could adapt with one of these energy saving methods or a few of them together. These steps can lead to saving more than several dollars.
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