As more homeowners are taking an interest in conservation and the environment, more creative ways of saving electricity are being developed. Apart from purchasing eco-friendly appliances, there are a large number of ways Ruston, LA residents can lower the energy they are using in their homes.
In this article, we mention some of the newer, lesser-known methods of conserving electricity. Here are some suggestions that are sure to get you thinking.
Grill Food Outside More Often
If you love to barbecue, this may be appealing to you. Grilling food outdoors instead of cooking it your kitchen can save you on electricity costs in different ways.
First, you’re not using energy to power your stovetop or oven, and second, no heat is being produced by these same devices, so your air conditioner doesn’t have to work harder to counteract the extra warmth.
Instead, you’re just burning charcoal or propane outdoors, where the temperature doesn’t matter concerning energy being spent. It’s also advisable to use a microwave instead of a stove or oven to reheat food.
Shut Your Doors All the Way
It might seem a bit obvious, but it’s something we often forget to do. Shutting doors to your home can prevent drafts and humidity from entering the house.
This practice is key during both summer and winter months since you don’t want your HVAC system to work harder cooling or heating your home.
Consider buying a door draft stopper to place on the bottom side of any entrance. Also, if you don’t want cool or heat up particular rooms, close the vents and the doors to them to conserve more energy.
Trees Can Protect Against Sun and Winds
One way of saving on energy while adding beauty to your home is to plant specific types of trees in certain spots to help with cooling in the summer and heating in the winter.
Plant deciduous trees, which shed their leaves in the winter, on the west and southwest sides of your home to provide shade from the hot sun.
Set up rows of evergreen trees, which keep their leaves all year long, on the north and west sides to help block cold winds. These will help the overall regulation of the temperature in your home.
Install Low-Emissivity Windows
Low-emissivity glass is a new technology designed to reflect infrared and ultraviolet light, so it doesn’t enter your home without reducing the amount of natural light that comes through.
Essentially, these windows have a microscopically thin coating that is transparent and reflects heat. That means the temperature inside remains consistent, so your HVAC devices don’t have to work as hard to maintain your desired climate.
