No matter if you’re looking to cut down on energy costs, aid the environment by reducing your consumption of electricity, or just want to practice good home utility hygiene, figuring out how to make your home more energy efficient is a great use of your time.

Of course, there are certain obvious tips that anyone reading this article will already know about. For instance, many home appliances, such as televisions, are rated by the energy standard based on how efficient they are. If you wish to make positive changes, opt for those that fall as close to the ‘A’ category as possible.

 But from there, how can you make adjustments around the house in a way that doesn’t deprive you from actually using your house as it’s intended? For instance, sure, running an electric fireplace with fire visualizer isn’t necessary the most cost-effective or energy-efficient habit, but you’re not going to totally forgo the use of your fireplace after it’s been installed just out of courtesy. For that reason, finding the right balance is key.

Set Off Timers On Your Appliances

Sure, you might not want to mother all of your appliances to make srue that they’re absolutely not being used unless another device or appliance in another room is turned off, but you’d be surprised just how well timers can work in saving you energy and energy costs.

For instance, setting an two-hour turn-off timer on your television can help you switch it off if you fall asleep on the sofa. The same goes for bedroom appliances, such as an air filter or white noise machine you may use to help you get to sleep. Often, you can set your central heating to only kick in at certain times, especially during the cold winter, just so  you don’t have to deal with a freezing morning floor while you’re trying to get that shower and jump into your warm clothing after.

This is a simple, non-offensive, set-and-forget means of saving energy in your house. Sometimes, appliances you purchase can do this for you, such as purchasing power strips with standby timers.

Bleed Your Radiators

It can be healthy to bleed your radiators once every month or two, because otherwise it can be hard for them to evenly heat up. This can lead to a loss of proper heating energy and could even cause problems with the fixture itself. Bleeding a radiator may take a little bit of time, but it’s certainly preferable to having dysfunctional units placed around the house, or needing to fall back on space heaters when you have that functionality already.

Say Yes To Renewables

Renewable energies are not only more important than ever, but they’re more feasible than ever, too. This should be considered good news to those who have been on the fence about installing a fixture in or on their home, making full use of this potential. 

Consulting with the best solar installers can ensure you know exactly how and why solar panels may be installed, for instance. Installers tend to focus on how panels can be naturally integrated on a roofing system, looking neat and tidy, while also maximizing sun exposure during the day. Sure, you might not live near the equator where the sun tends to shine all day long, but even so, solar panels can make a difference, lower your energy costs, and contribute to healthy sustainability – because what’s more sustainable than using the sun as a resource?

Motion-Sensitive Lights

Making your energy efficiency foolproof is a great way of keeping up with this habit from now into the future. Motion-sensitive lights, placed around your home, are a great way of achieving this.

Put simply, if no movement is detected in a room for a pre-set time, it can be that the lights go off by themselves. This can even be used as a security measure, where floodlights installed at the garden and onto the driveway can prevent would-be trespassers from entering, while also reducing the need to have such lights on at all times.

Of course, setting certain times for this lighting cycle is also key, and adjustable should you use the right products. The last thing you need is to wave your arms around every twenty minutes when you’re trying to sit and watch a movie with your spouse, for instance. A healthy balance is key here, as it always is when dealing with environmental concerns.

With this advice, you’re sure to make your home more energy-efficient going forward.