Winter is tough on everybody and staying warm is not negotiable. What is negotiable, however, is how you choose to spend your energy. Global warming is a massive threat to everyone and it is within the power of everyone to do their bit to conserve some energy and stay warm wisely.
With the development of technology and being wise about how you keep your home warm, there is no need to forego the comfort that you have or to alter your lifestyle. You just need to be smart about energy conservation. Not only will you do your bit for the environment, but you will also save a heap of money in the process. Here are four ways to use energy reasonably during winter.
Invite some tech into your home
The chances are that you are still sitting on some old, inefficient heating technology. Many people do not give their heating systems a second thought. If it keeps the house warm, then all is right with the world. The only problem is that this type of thinking is bleeding your bank account. You need a sustainable energy solution that can generate more heat while costing less money.
One of how to do this is to upgrade your electrical radiators and connect them to digital thermostats. There are some impressive models around that even connect to your Wi-Fi. This enables you to remotely control the heating of your home. Paired with motion sensors, your radiators can be set to automatically kick in when the need arises.
Be wise with your fireplace
If you are lucky enough to have a fireplace in your home, then you also have a responsibility to work wisely with it. There are few things as comfortable as snuggling up to a fire while sipping on a glass of wine or a steaming cup of hot chocolate during a cold winter’s night. But when you want to use your fireplace wisely, there are some things to consider.
When the fireplace is not in use, be sure to close the damper as the heat in your home is looking for a way to escape. While the fire is going through, be sure to close the doors that lead into the room where the fireplace is situated.
This will prevent the heat from escaping, making the room even more comfortable. While the fire is going, be sure to turn down the heat to the room as well. There is no need to have two sources burning at once.
How hot is hot enough?
Find a balance and figure out what is hot enough and set the equipment in the house accordingly. Geysers, dishwashers, and washing machines are all machines that are hungry for heat. The majority of energy that these machines and appliances use goes towards heating water. The same goes for anything that needs to heat up in your home. The higher the temperature, the more energy is needed.
If saving energy and money is a priority, then running a couple of tests is not asking much. To begin with, run a couple of cycles with your washing machine and set the water to warm or cold instead of hot. The clothes will still come out clean. The same goes for the geyser and the central heating system. By turning the temperature down by a couple of degrees, you will start saving money and not even feel the difference in your home.
Use the daytime
When it comes to saving money on heating, nothing comes close to the power of the sun. Not only is it free, but it is reliable. During the day, open the south-facing curtains and let the natural light stream in. If your windows are double or triple glazed, it will allow the heat to come in but will not let it out again.
If a bit of sunshine is not enough, though, opt for solar panels to get even more out of the sun. With even a basic solar panel system, you could save heaps of money. Any excess energy that the panels produce is pushed back into the grid. The best part about solar is that you can always add more panels, depending on your need.
