Are you worried about energy prices? Or are you just trying to reduce your environmental impact? Either way, this article will tell you ten of the easiest ways to conserve energy at home.
Conserving energy is taking steps to reduce our overall energy usage, either by reducing carbon emissions or just trying to reduce the bills.
Some people will have the means to invest in technologies that help them reduce their energy consumption. Others have to simply use methods which are less expensive or just slightly cheaper and easier.
The ten easiest ways to conserve energy below can help make a difference in your journey towards becoming energy efficient. They include both technology-based options as well as some easy ways that mean you don’t have to spend anything.
10. Move your furniture away from radiators − easy energy-saving hack anyone can do
Ensure the furniture around your home is not covering radiators. This is one of the easiest ways to make use of your heating when it’s on.
If your furniture is placed in front of radiators or other sources of heat, it can block the heat from reaching the entire room and become a contributor to energy waste.
For example, a sofa or bulky chair will trap heat, meaning you will be paying for the warmth but missing out on the full effect of the heating.
9. Replace incandescent bulbs with LED bulbs − one that will save energy and last longer
Incandescent bulbs are a huge source of energy waste; only around 2% of the energy that is emitted from these bulbs is visible light.
The other 98% is simply wasted heat. That is a huge waste of energy for such a small item. They also require a replacement each year, therefore not lasting as long.
LED lights are now super affordable and much more energy efficient compared to incandescent lighting. LED bulbs use 75% less energy, meaning you’d conserve energy and will last 25 times longer than their incandescent counterparts.
8. Lessen water usage − one that doesn’t cost much
This is another one that won’t require you to spend anything to see results. You just need to reduce the consumption of water in your daily life to see results. Shorter showers could save around £95 a year in energy bills by introducing this one simple trick.
Some other amazing and easy ways to conserve energy here could be by turning off the running taps when you don’t need them (washing dishes or brushing your teeth).
7. Wash your clothes in cold water − easy laundry energy-saving tip
There’s a lot of energy usage that goes into doing your laundry, so to conserve more energy in this area, the best thing to do is to start washing your clothes in a cold-wash setting.
You could use the 30-degree or lower settings which reduces the washing machine’s energy usage.
6. Switch off standby − switching off appliances can save a lot of energy!
You could save just by turning that standby mode off your appliances! Switching appliances off at the plug socket can do a lot for conserving energy consumption.
Some of the biggest culprits of wasting energy include TVs which are often the main appliances that get left on standby, computers, which cost £20 to run on standby each year and gaming consoles which can cost up to £30 a year to run in standby mode.
Remembering to turn them off completely can save a lot of energy in the long run!
5. Top up your home insulation − make your entire home energy efficient
If your home isn’t insulated to the highest standard, you can guarantee that you are wasting energy here. It is best to start investing in good insulation for your home.
Insulating your water tank, pipes and radiators is an easy way to conserve energy and save some money on your bills. Placing insulation in your attic can help avoid heat escaping through your roof.
Draught-proofing windows and floors can help save energy too. Also, adding double glazing will help to make more efficient windows in your home.
4. Smart thermostats − controlling your room temperature can become easier
Investing in a smart thermostat is a great way to control how much energy you are using through your central heating, which can help to keep your annual heating costs and energy usage lower.
Programmable thermostats can be set from your phone or a device in the home. Smart thermostats can be used to control the temperature to heat or cool your rooms however you like.
These are great tools for saving energy and money as they can be programmed in a way that suits you and can help keep the utility bills to a minimum by allowing you to check the usage.
3. Cook with the lid on − energy-saving hack in the kitchen
This is a super simple hack in everyday life for anyone and everyone who cooks in the kitchen. Your electricity usage is much higher when you cook on the hob without lids on the pans.
So to save energy and reduce your electricity bills, you could add a lid to the pan when you are cooking, and it will lessen the time taken to cook the meal, saving you energy and time.
2. Repair any electrical issues in the home − electrical management
Electrical issues in the home can be a source of energy waste. Whether it’s electrical surges, bulbs burning out, or inefficient appliances, it is always worth having a professional come out to fix them.
This is important because of the dangers electrical devices can have. Not to mention by having a professional fix your electrical issues, the devices can run more efficiently.
1. Install energy-efficient windows − windows are a big contributor to energy waste
Replace your single-pane windows with double-pane windows. Living in a colder area, installing gas-filled windows can significantly reduce heat loss.
That will then reduce your heating bill and energy consumption too, saving you money and energy.
Other notable mentions
Use power strips in the home: Power strips can be plugged into the wall allowing you to add more plugs into the strip. They not only optimise your ability to add multiple plugs into them but also help to avoid overloading the electrical outlet.
The power strip is beneficial as it distributes energy efficiently to the appliances that are plugged into it, preventing unnecessary energy usage.
Change your daily habits: This requires no upfront costs; it is a simple behavioural change. But it might be a tricky one for some people as breaking habits can be difficult. But the easiest way you could conserve more energy would be by switching your daily habits.
It will be the little things that you do not think cause a lot of harm that would add up either in energy wastage or financially in your bills. Such as leaving a light on in a room you are not in.
You could switch a light off when you leave the room, boil a kettle for your boiling water to cook with rather than heating it on the hob or unplug a device that’s not in use.
FAQs about ways to conserve energy
How can students conserve energy?
Students could change their daily habits as an easy way to conserve energy. They could use a power strip in their rooms to avoid overloading and only charge devices when they are completely dead.
Use the weather to your advantage; air dry your clothes outside in the warmer months or layer up if you are cold to avoid using the heating.
How can we conserve energy in appliances?
Buy an energy-efficient model in the beginning. It will save you money and energy costs later down the line. Use glass or ceramic pans as they retain heat better than metal, keep the oven door shut to keep the heat in, and switch off all appliances.
How can you conserve electricity at home?
Upgrade your HVAC air conditioning system if you have one in your home, for example, to heat pumps or a natural gas furnace. You will need to ensure the system is the right one for the climate you are in.
You can also reduce the amount of energy-intensive appliances you use by air drying your clothes instead of putting them in the dryer or washing dishes by hand rather than using the dishwasher.