Living a sustainable lifestyle in your energy efficient home is a year-round commitment. But it’s fair to say that being environmentally friendly is easier at certain times of the year, when the ambient conditions mean you’re less reliant on electricity to keep your home running smoothly.
As the mercury starts to rise and the doldrums of winter become a distant memory, now is the perfect time to consider ways you can make more efficient use of your energy this summer. To give you a helping hand, here are three simple things you can do to trim down your carbon footprint. By following these simple tips, you can cut down on your energy usage – and save yourself some money in the long run.
Insulation to help your home become more energy efficient
Insulating your home is not only crucial to help keep you warm in the winter, but it can also help you to stay cool in the sweltering summer months. Insulation helps to slow the movement of heat within your home, whilst reflecting any heat from outside to help stabilise indoor temperatures.
This means that your heating and cooling systems won’t have to work as hard to maintain a comfortable temperature, which can lead to significant energy savings throughout summer and beyond. So if you’re looking for a way to save energy and money, insulation is a great place to start.
Let in more natural light
The longer days of summer give you the opportunity to switch off the lights and allow your home to be filled with sunlight. Be sure to draw any curtains or blinds during the daytime, and also consider other ways you can increase the amount of natural light in your home. For example, mirrors and other shiny surfaces will be good at reflecting light, which will help to make dark spaces feel brighter without the assistance of artificial sources.
The amount of money and energy you could potentially save by switching off the lights will depend on both the type of bulbs you use and the amount you have. Particularly if you have older incandescent bulbs installed, most of the energy used to power them will be given off as heat. So, not only will you save on energy bills by switching them off, but your home will also feel cooler. Even if you’re using energy-efficient LED light bulbs throughout your home, letting in more sunlight will still be better for both the environment and your wallet.
As this guide to energy efficiency for homeowners reports, lighting costs account for 20% of the average electricity bill in the UK, highlighting how important it is to adopt good habits in this aspect of your home.
Clean up your laundry routine
Doing laundry may not be the most exciting task at any time of year, but there are a few simple ways to make it more efficient, particularly during the summer months. One of the easiest ways to save energy is by line-drying your clothes whenever possible, instead of using a tumble dryer.
The sun and fresh air will do a great job of freshening up your garments, and you’ll avoid using any electricity. If you do need to use your dryer, be sure to clean the lint trap before each load. A full lint trap can make your dryer less efficient, and could also require it to work harder, meaning it could need more maintenance work or replacing sooner.
