Tips to Reduce Your Energy Consumption

Reducing your energy consumption is not only kinder to the planet, but it is also a smart switch to make for a variety of reasons to benefit your home environment. With continually rising utility costs and environmental concerns, making energy efficient choices has never been more critical than it is now. Making these changes doesn’t necessarily require major renovations either, with minor adjustments to daily habits and small appliance upgrades, you can guarantee an improvement in your energy consumption from day one. 

Jewel Renewables offer a range of high performance, energy saving products to make your home more energy efficient. Our renewable energy saving technology covers anything from your home’s heating to the generation of electricity. In this article, we will guide you through some energy saving tips, potential daily habits to implement into your routine, and some of our green alternatives and upgrades to maximise the reduction of your carbon footprint.

Energy Saving Tips

When reducing your energy consumption, it is first essential to understand how energy is being consumed around your home, and the ways in which you can prevent it from being wasted. Something that some homeowners don’t realise is that many devices and systems silently run in the background, increasing your utility bills without you even noticing. However, thankfully, specific alterations can be made to increase your savings without compromising on comfort. 

Lights

A good first step to take is to make the switch to energy efficient LED lightbulbs instead of traditional incandescent ones. They use anywhere from 75%-90% less energy and last significantly longer, making them a far better value for money. Ensure that lights are turned off whenever you leave a room, and if there are rooms where lights are often left on unnecessarily, consider installing motion sensors or timers. 

Appliances

Appliances play a significant role in household energy consumption. When researching your appliance options, try to opt for Energy Star-rated models, as they are designed to consume less electricity without sacrificing performance. Another significant change you could make is to unplug your devices when not in use, as many electronics can draw out energy even when they aren’t actively being used or are turned off; otherwise known as “phantom energy” or “vampire power”.

Heating and Cooling Systems

When it comes to heating and cooling your home, make a point to set your thermostat a few degrees lower in winter and higher in the summer months. To make this change even when you are away or asleep, you can use a programmable thermostat to adjust these temperatures automatically. Ensure your home is well insulated, primarily through its walls, windows, doors, floors and roofing, to prevent energy loss. 

Water Heating

Heating your water is another substantial energy expense. Taking shorter showers, turning down the temperature of your water, and insulating the heating tanks can help to retain heat for longer. Also, fixing any potential leaks, dripping taps, or installing low-flow fixtures can save considerable amounts of water and energy from being wasted.

Daily Habits to Improve Energy Saving

Making small changes to your daily routine will be minor in your day-to-day living, but will have a remarkable impact on your overall energy consumption over time. Many of these energy saving habits are easy to implement and bear no financial burden. 

A good place to start is to make a habit of turning off electronics and lights when they are not being used. Smart power strips can cut power off and save energy as they can detect when a device is in standby mode, with many of them including motion detectors that power off an outlet when movement is detected. Shut down computers and monitors when they are not being used, especially overnight. 

An extra tip to reduce energy consumption that can often go under the radar is to try to run energy-heavy appliances such as dishwashers, washing machines, and dryers during off-peak hours; typically in the evening or early morning. The reason this helps dramatically is because it reduces the strain on the power grid and lowers your energy bills (if your utility company offers time-of-use pricing). 

In your kitchen space, there are small changes that can be made to help with energy efficiency, too. Using lids on pots ot retain heat while cooking, matching pot sizes to hob burners, and using a microwave to heat smaller meals instead of a full-sized oven can help significantly. When running the dishwasher, only run full loads and let the dishes air dry.

And finally, washing your clothes in cold water will help you save energy as you won’t be using your water heater, and most modern detergents work just as effectively no matter the water temperature. Allowing your laundry to air dry on a clothes line or drying rack, if time allows, or select the ‘moisture-sensing setting’ on your dryer if it includes one to avoid overdrying. 

Green Alternatives and Upgrades

For long-term savings, it might be worth considering investing in green technologies and upgrades. While some of these changes may be off-putting due to their upfront costs, they often pay off in reducing bills and property value. 

Solar panels are one of the most effective ways to reduce your carbon footprint and lower energy costs. Jewel Renewables offer a wide selection of high performance solar panels and installation services across towns in Hampshire, Surrey, and more. Find out more about the areas we cover, and how installing a solar panel can significantly improve your energy efficiency. 

Upgrades to smart thermostats are a wise choice, it’s even in the name! They can learn your schedule and adjust temperatures accordingly for optimal efficiency. Many models can also be controlled remotely, giving you complete control over the temperature of your home, even when you’re not there. 

Consider replacing your windows with double or triple glazing, or your doors with well-insulated, energy efficient alternatives. uPVC or timber windows for their improved insulation and recyclability, as well as composite doors for their low U value, are all great options for reducing energy consumption.

Make Your Home Greener With Jewel Renewables

Saving energy is proven not to require dramatic lifestyle changes necessarily. By adopting smarter habits and investing in green technologies, you can reduce your energy consumption and cut monthly bills significantly. Making these adjustments is something that we can all implement into our daily lives, and these efforts will not only have a personal impact. Still, they will also help to contribute towards a more sustainable future. If you would like more information or are looking for personalised advice to help make energy efficient changes, contact our expert team at Jewel Renewables today. Alternatively, if you are ready to make a start today for savings in the future, you can start an online quote for a bespoke solar panel, energy storage unit, or car charger.