Within our homes and our places of work, we will require the use of energy for a multitude of tasks. The need for heating, lights, electricity for different appliances and pieces of equipment which we may need both at home and at work all require a certain amount of energy. However, if we do not ensure that we are using the correct measures to ensure that our energy is being used appropriately, we could be potentially wasting a huge portion of our energy, making our home and work environment energy inefficient.
There are a wide range of factors which can greatly affect the energy efficiency of both your home and workplace which in many cases will result in high bills which can cost a considerable amount of money. Some of these factors will include drafty rooms due to insufficient sealing of walls, windows, etc; cold floors during the winter period, dust, peeling paint due to humid air conditions and moisture on windows. These different factors can cause you to excessively use your heating, air conditioning system or even open your windows more frequently which allows your energy to escape from your environment, thus wasting it.
One of the main ways in which you can be more energy efficient is to make sensible decisions where it comes to your heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems. There are many ways in which you can help the overall efficiency of these areas which will not only help save you money, but will also help the environment too. Changing your air filter regularly will help use less energy as a clogged or dirty filter will need to work harder in order to push out warm or cold air, thus using and wasting more energy. Cleaning regularly will also help eliminate the amount of dust and dirt which may seep into the system which could result in costly maintenance repairs in the future. You can also help by ensuring that the equipment which you use is certified as helping your energy efficiency rate and check that you have your equipment tested frequently. Correct insulation of your home or work place will also help your overall energy efficiency.
Insulation can be used to not only block heat loss during the colder months of the year, but also to block out some of the heat gain you will receive during the warmer months. Have your environment investigated for any leaks in the instances where you are experiencing drafts whether they are coming from windows, underneath doors or otherwise. However, you may possibly have holes and areas of leaking in areas you may not think of such as your attic, basement and crawlspaces which also need to be looked at in order to help eliminate the amount of energy you are losing. Insulation can be added in a wide range of areas, but one of the most beneficial areas to add it is on your floors. Adding carpet onto bare floors will not only make the environment more comfortable-whether in your home or at work; but will also help trap some of the warmth into the room.
Lighting is one of the ways in which we can help save energy the most. In the past few years, there has been a massive increase in the amount of people who are seeing the benefits of using energy efficient light bulbs within their home and work place which not only provides them with fantastic light, but also uses less energy, thus costing less money in the long run. Compact fluorescent light bulbs are best used in instances where they require to be used for a long period of time, but are more useful that the traditional types of light bulbs as they ‘warm up’ much faster than these types of light bulbs and generally reach 95% of their full light output within 1 minute of being switched on. Originally these types of bulbs were designed in a long design which was not suitable for some lighting fixtures, but with the changes in the designs, you are now able to use these bulbs in a wide range of fixtures and as they have a longer life than traditional light bulbs, you will save money due to less bulb changes being needed.
When it comes to being energy efficient, it really is as simple as adopting a few measures such as tweaking the way in which you light and heat your home and/or work place. More people than ever are reaping the benefits of not just saving a considerable amount of money every year, but also from doing their bit to help the environment.
BY GAHZLY GAHZLY
