Interiors

New Year’s Resolutions for Your Home: How to Save More Energy

Some time ago, your resolutions for 2013 slipped right out from under you. Even if you have not been the best at keeping resolutions in the past, 2014 is the time for you to change around your attitude. This year, consider resolving to be better at saving energy in your home. When you are able to accomplish this task, you are not just helping yourself. You’re making a better environment for everyone. Austin’s Renewable Energy providers Native helps you answer, ”What are some ways you can save energy?”green-house

Start with the Basics

If you are not able to implement even the most basic of energy-saving techniques in your home, then you’re setting yourself up for a major struggle with this goal. Make a list of rules for the house. When exiting a room, the lights and television must be turned off. The heat cannot go on unless the house gets below a certain temperature, and the air conditioner cannot go on unless the home is above a state degree. Ensuring that you have some basic rules in play sets the foundations for this endeavor.

Get Everyone on Board

Your project will also fail if the other people in your house are not willing to help. Turning off a light every time you the living the room isn’t going to help if someone else walks right back in and turns it on. Have a serious discussion with the adults in your house to let them know this is what you would like to do. As far as children go, you may wish to set up a reward chart. Whenever they act in an energy-saving manner, they will receive stickers. After a certain number of stickers, they can get a reward for their good behavior.

Make Renovations to the House

Now that you are changing some of your day-to-day habits, looks for ways that you can actually change some of the structural and functioning elements of your home. Putting up solar panels is an incredible way to save energy. You may also want to eliminate some energy-draining appliances from the home. For example, if you live in an area that really never gets too warm, do you actually need to have an air conditioner? As for the appliances you are planning to keep, look for ones that consume less energy. On top of that, you should check out the types of windows you have and choose ones that are energy efficient.

Do What You Can Without this Energy

You should also make a list of all the things that you can do without using up too much energy. Chances are, you do the laundry at least a couple of times per week in your house. You probably put in even more loads if you have children. While you may very well still need to put the clothes in the washing machine, consider alternative ways of drying them. Get a clothesline and hang your clothes up outside. Not only does this help eliminate the unnecessary use of energy, but you will also be getting more exercise. You can encourage your family to go for bike rides and to play outside instead of using the car and sitting in front of the computer all day as well.

When you want to be kinder to environment in 2014, these tips will really help you get started. More tips are available through energy.gov.

Native is one of the leading providers of renewable energy and green building in Austin, Texas. You can visit their site or connect with them on Facebook.

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