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Keeping your home energy efficient is a way to do your part for our ailing planet. Every extra step anyone takes to leave a smaller carbon footprint makes a difference. However, saving the earth’s resources is not the only benefit of having an energy-efficient home.

A personal advantage homeowners experience when they start focusing on energy efficiency is the monetary savings that accompany it. If you implement these four tips, you will see a drastic decrease in your monthly energy bill, leaving you with some extra money to save or spend on necessities:

Make your heating system work for you

As winter approaches, many homeowners start anticipating skyrocketing energy bills to keep their heating systems running to regulate indoor temperatures. For those who live in less temperate climate zones, heating is essential for surviving the winter. However, technological advances mean that a heating system no longer needs to be an energy guzzler. Homeowners who install energy-efficient radiators from BestElectricRadiators have found that their homes are warmer while only paying a fraction of what they used to beforehand. Companies like Technotherm and Herschel Select also have wide ranges of energy-efficient radiators.

Keep yourself out of hot water

Water heaters account for approximately 20% of a household’s energy bill, with this percentage rising if they are not energy efficient or well-managed. While hot water is essential, it does not need to be on tap 24/7, and controlling its availability can save homeowners hundreds of dollars annually.

A simple measure to make your existing hot water system more efficient would be a water heater timer. It switches the water heater on and off at different times of the day according to the user’s programming instructions.

Smart water heater controllers include those that manage the thermostat temperature, keeping it at preset fluctuating temperatures throughout the day according to the household’s hot water requirements. Hot water will be available constantly, but it is possible to set it at a higher temperature during peak times such as the evening when everyone does their daily ablutions.

Splash out and update electric appliances

You might have been eying a new dishwasher online but cannot justify the expense of buying it because your old one still works. However, spending the money now could save you a lot on energy bills. Advanced appliance technology means that these machines use less electricity and water, translating into utility savings. If you compare your current dishwasher’s electricity consumption statistics with that of a newer model, the difference may surprise you. This applies to any appliance with a thermostat that warms or cools, including refrigerators and freezers, washing machines and dryers, coffee makers and kettles.

Check new appliances’ energy efficiency rating before purchasing them to ensure that they will save you money. Additionally, utilize these appliances effectively. For example, do not run your dishwasher with half a load daily. Instead, run it on a full load once every second day.

Go towards the light

No guide on making a home more energy efficient would be replete without mentioning lighting systems. Using energy-efficient lightbulbs saves homeowners plenty of money. Additionally, they are less harmful to the environment.

Most old light fittings can accommodate newer ligh bulbs that offer the same brightness level as older ones while using a fraction of the electricity they used to generate it. Buy dimmer bulbs for areas where lights burn all night, such as a landing or staircase. Alternatively, use a dimmer switch to regulate energy consumption.

LED (light-emitting diode) lighting systems are becoming more popular. They may require new fittings but are cheap to run and well worth the initial expense. Smart lighting systems in homes include motion-detecting lights that come on when someone enters a room.

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