Home Energy-Wasting Habits to Stop

The thing about habits is that they are very difficult to break. And once you get into bad ones, they are inevitably harmful to some aspect of your life. In this article, we are going to be looking at some of the biggest energy-wasting habits around your home that you work to break. Though most of these things sound simple, you need to take active steps to get out of these habits and replace them with greener ones.

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Standing in Front of an Open Fridge

Did you know that it has been estimated that people spend nearly 11 hours a year standing in front of an open fridge wondering what to eat? If you are one of these people, you are wasting a lot of energy this way. Instead, you should try to think about what you want to eat before you open the door. In fact, this could be a good mental workout as well! 

Falling Asleep with the TV On

Now that so many of us have Netflix available in all rooms of the house, it is easier than ever to fall asleep in front of the TV. But if you are doing this on a regular basis, you will be wasting a lot of money. So, try to get into a habit of turning off all devices when you are not using them. Watching TV late at night has the other major disadvantage of disrupting your sleep, so this gives you yet another reason to get out of this habit.

Lights On or Lights Off When Leaving A Room?

Is it cheaper to turn out the lights if you leave the room or to leave them on? If you have LED lights, it is best to shut them off every time you leave the room. However, if you have incandescent light bulbs, they can get worn out so it is best to leave them on if you are coming back within a few minutes. With tube fluorescents, leave them on if you are returning within fifteen minutes and with compact fluorescents, leave them on if you are returning in less than 30 minutes.

Not Utilizing Natural Energy

So far, we have only talked about artificial energy, but you should also make the most of the natural energy that comes from the sun. The most simple way of doing this is with your curtains. So, when the sun is shining, make sure to open all your drapes, but remember to contain the heat by closing them when it sets again. If you are going to contain the heat best, you may want new window installation to get the most energy efficient kind. More and more homeowners are also looking into getting solar panels. It is certainly worth checking out if you are aiming for long-term savings.

Not Programming Your Thermostat

If you have only recently installed a programmable or smart thermostat, it can be a challenge to remember to set this on a regular basis. But there is no point wasting energy heating up your home when you simply don’t need to, so try setting a reminder on your phone that gives you a nudge that you need to do this. 

If you recognize yourself in any of the five habits listed above, now is the time to make a change to save money and energy in your home.

This is a contributed post.

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