I am all about personally reaping the benefits of environmentally friendly behaviors. When you but your electrical usage, you help the environment and your wallet. We'll talk about how you can do that, and why you should.
In 2020, 60% of electricity produced in the United States was compromised of fossil fuels, coal, and petroleum. All of which produce carbon dioxide which damages the ozone layer, causes climate change, and pollutes the air that we breathe every day. 20% of electricity came from renewable sources and the other 20% came from nuclear energy, which is a clean source of energy which results in no carbon dioxide emissions being released.
Now that you understand a little bit more about where your energy comes from, we will discuss ways you can reduce your energy consumption, benefitting personally as well as helping the environment.
Unplug your devices: When you are not using your devices, unplug them. They continue to use electricity even when they are turned off and not in use. These are referred to as energy vampires because they are secretly wasting energy. In order to make this easier on yourself, you can use power strips with switches and turn the switches off when you are not using your devices.
Use natural air flow: Although fans aren't a great replacement for air conditioning, use them to assist with the circulation of airflow in the room. It is possible to reduce your electrical usage by opening windows and using fans when the weather is cooler in the summer rather than running air conditioning. Just remember, turn fans off when you leave the room because they do not cool the room itself, so having a fan run in an empty room is pointless.
Upgrade your appliances: Purchase Energy Star appliances when you can in order to replace other models. They significantly reduce the amount of energy required to operate the equipment you use every day, such as televisions, refrigerators, stoves, etc.
Keep your refrigerator and freezer full: Keeping your refrigerator and freezer fuller helps with insulation. This reduces the amount of electricity your appliances need to produce in order to keep your products cool.
Update your windows: Your windows can play a significant factor in how much energy is being wasted in your home every day. If you upgrade your windows you can save because newer windows provide extra insulation for your home in both the summer and winter months. You can also install a shrink kit yourself, but this will prevent you from opening the windows.
Replace your air filter: Having a clean air filter helps to reduce the amount of energy required by your homes heating and cooling systems.
Use smaller appliances: Using smaller appliances when cooking saves electricity because the amount of space required to heat is reduced. This also decreases the amount of time required for cooking, so it is a win-win situation; try using a microwave, air fryer, instant pot, or toaster oven.
Use natural lighting: Open up your blinds during daylight hours rather than turning on lights throughout your house.
Reduce your electrical use during peak hours: Peak hours are called that because it is the time of day when the majority of the electricity usage for most homes takes place. Many electric companies actually charge the consumer more for electricity used during this period.
Think about your home's temperature: Dress for the weather rather than cranking up your air conditioning or your heat. Each degree will increase the energy use of your heating/cooling system by 6-8%.
Each item on this list will make a small impact on your wallet and the environment. However, when used in combination they do add up. Keeping these in the back of your mind will help you reduce the amount of electricity which is wasted by your household.
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