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28 May 2013

These Energy Conservation Techniques Will Save Any Home Thousands Of Dollars Yearly

By Frances Keith


The tiny cracks around window, skylight and door frames are not as insignificant as they seem; each year, they lead to losses in the region of thirteen billion dollars, and that is just in the United States. That is enough to fund the yearly budget of a small Third World country. It also shows that ordinary citizens need to do their bit in the battle to keep the environment healthy. There are several energy conservation techniques which normal households can use to cut down on their energy use.

The process of conservation starts with an audit. This is needed in order to determine exactly what needs to be changed. The thorough checks are normally carried out by qualified technicians; however, advances in technology are making it possible for ordinary homeowners to do some of the checks on their own. These include smart meters and smart phone applications. These investigations are not limited to a home's physical structure. They also peer into processes and systems.

Contrary to popular perceptions, these checks go beyond a home's physical structure. They look at processes and systems too. A complete audit gives homeowners the information they need to make changes.

One of the simplest ways to reduce power costs is by replacing incandescent light bulbs with power saving ones. Invented more than 200 years ago by Thomas Edison, the devices give out warm pleasant illumination. Unfortunately, they are incredibly inefficient, converting only ten percent of the electricity they receive into light. The rest is dissipated as heat.

Since no one buys light bulbs for the heat, it is a much better idea to switch to compact fluorescent lights, light emitting diodes and other forms of efficient lighting. This move can shave hundreds of dollars every year from a household electricity bill. It will stop tons of greenhouse gases from damaging the environment.

The next step involves checking and changing doors, windows and skylights where necessary. These account for significant electricity loss. For instance, windows normally cover five to ten percent of a home's surface area. However, they are responsible for nearly half of all power losses. Installation is best done by a professional to ensure that there will be no holes around the frames.

Air conditioners are electrical hogs. An inefficient unit can add thousands of dollars to a home's power bill. Older models are particularly notorious for their high power use. These should be replaced as soon as possible. The thermostat should be turned down a notch or two wherever possible. This can create huge savings over the long term. Homeowners who are shopping for new units should be on the lookout for the famous Energy Star rating. It provides consumers with a quick way of gauging efficiency.

Some of the best energy conservation techniques involve a change of habit rather than hundreds of dollars in extra investments. For instance, computers are best set to sleep or hibernate if they will be idle for prolonged periods of time. Electronic devices should be unplugged, as they still use power even when they are turned off. The same rule applies to chargers. While the amounts of power involved are tiny, they do add up over time, and can add several hundred dollars to a home energy bill.




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