Global warming and rising electricity costs have been hot topics for the past few decades. It is no wonder that many people have been applying sustainable living practices in their daily lives in order to save the environment.
Saving electricity is something that anyone can do with little to no cost. The electricity bill is one of the main bills in most households. Therefore when you save electricity, you also save money. With that said, here are 5 green living tips to save on electricity every month.
Turn Off the Lights
This is an obvious one, but many people simply forget to do it. Make it a habit to turn off lights before leaving rooms. If others in your household forget to do it, you might want to invest in movement sensors or automatic timers. This must be the easiest step towards green living.
Unplug Unused Electronics
Did you know that plugged-in electronics around your house can account for as much as 10% of the yearly electricity use? It’s true. Therefore, next time you finish watching TV or working on the computer, simply unplug the cord until the next use.
Use Appliances Efficiently
Be smart about how you use appliances: make sure that your washing machine, dryer and dishwasher is full before running a cycle; wash your clothes in cold water; throw a dry towel into the dryer to reduce drying times and air-dry your clothes when the temperature allows it; use air-dry function on your dishwasher; don’t preheat the oven if not necessary and only use it when preparing bigger meals; and adjust temperature on your refrigerator.
Be Smart with Water
Hot water can take a lot of electricity, so be smart with how you use it. Wash your clothes in cold water (again); take shorter showers; only take a bath on special occasions, such as the end of the week; turn off the water when brushing teeth and shaving; fill up the sink when hand-washing dishes rather than letting the water run the entire time.
Fix Up Your Dwelling
Make your home as insulated as possible to keep the heat in. This will drastically cut your electricity bills during colder months. Lowering your thermostat by just 2 degrees can reduce your monthly bill by as much as 5%. Besides that, check all faucets to ensure they are not leaking.
Remember that learning sustainable living takes time. Instead of trying to follow all energy saving tips at ones, tackle them at the rate of one per month.month.