How to Make Your Home More Energy Efficient

by Eva June 6, 2021

written by Eva June 6, 2021

How to Make Your Home More Energy Efficient

Introduction

Recycling, saving water and electricity, and even switching to greener products are some great ways to live a more sustainable life. But did you know that there are many more things you can do to make a home greener? Here are a few ways to make your home more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly.

Change the Heating System

Boilers

Going green typically focuses on using renewable energy as a power source. Instead of having a water heater, you can get a boiler. A boiler will also heat the water in your home, and as the water flows, your home will be heated as a result of hot water flowing through the pipes. Because boilers can be powered by gas or electricity, it is not safe to install one yourself, unless you make sure you meet the requirements of your state and become fully licensed to do that type of work.

Solar Panels

Solar panels are a very good source of electricity, as well as heat. Solar thermal panels use the sun to heat up water, without using any other type of energy.

Use Renewable Energy Sources

Solar Panels

Again, solar panels are one of the cleanest ways to create electricity in your home. Simply put, when the sunlight hits the panels, electricity is generated, flows through the wires to your home, and distributes electricity throughout. At night, after the sun goes down, solar-powered electricity can still be used if a home has solar battery banks that store extra energy from the daytime.

Electric Vehicles

Stepping outside the home for just a moment, driving an electric car is the most sustainable way to drive when going green. These cars run off of electricity, a renewable resource, instead of gas, which is a nonrenewable resource. Because electric cars run on batteries and not an actual engine, there is no carbon dioxide emitted from these types of vehicles.

Save More Energy

If you don’t have a renewable source of energy, it still helps to save the energy we have. We all know that turning off the lights when you’re not in a room saves energy, but did you know that many devices that are plugged into your walls are using energy— even if they are not turned on? Phone chargers, TVs, radios, and toasters are some examples.

Smart Sockets and Eco Chargers

To fix the problem of wasting energy, you can invest in smart sockets to help. Power is cut from devices that are plugged in, but not being used. There’s even something called an eco charger for your phone and laptop, as some people tend to leave those chargers plugged in at all times. An eco charger shuts off after a device is fully charged, and turns back on again the next time you need to use it.

LED Light Bulbs

LED light bulbs are some of the most energy-efficient bulbs on the market. They use about 75% less energy than regular light bulbs, last 25 times longer, and give off the same amount of light. They do cost more, but you won’t have to replace them as often, saving you energy and money over time.

Build Your Own Eco-Friendly Home

Did you know that you can build an energy-efficient home? These homes are usually built from recycled materials, such as old shipping containers. They can either have solar panels as an electricity source or large windows to let in light and heat. The windows should face south to lower heating costs in the colder months and should be covered with curtains, or some type of shade in the warmer months.

When finding a pre-loved shipping container for sale, you should always check its condition before closing the deal. If you’ll be using it as an eco-friendly home, its quality is of the utmost importance to make sure that it will last longer.

Conclusion

You don’t have to build an energy-efficient home to live more sustainably, although you could if you wanted to (and are licensed to do so). You also don’t have to use boilers and solar panels, unless you want to. But if you do want to live more sustainably, you must save energy where you can!