As winter progresses and the nights get colder, it becomes more difficult — and more expensive — to heat your home. Whether you’re concerned about your energy usage for financial or environmental reasons, there are a few simple ways you can reduce your consumption. Here are some practical tips on how to save energy at home:
- Use LED Lights
- Replace Old Appliances
- Conserve Hot Water
- Install Window Film
Use LED Lights
We all know that turning off the lights when you leave a room is one way to save energy. But there’s another way that lighting can help you reduce your consumption, and that’s by swapping out traditional incandescent bulbs for light-emitting diodes (LEDs). According to the Department of Energy, LED lights are the most energy-efficient option for homes. Not only do they last twenty-five times longer than incandescents, but they also use at least 75% less energy.
The DOE estimates that by 2035, LEDs will be the predominant lighting choice, potentially saving 569 TWh annually in the United States. Making the switch to LED lights is a cost-effective way to save energy at home.
Replace Old Appliances
If you look around your home, you may have an old appliance or two that has seen better days. Whether you have a fifteen-year-old refrigerator on its last leg or an HVAC system that’s struggling to keep up, replacing old appliances can make a big difference when it comes to your home’s energy usage. Newer appliances utilize modern technology, making them more efficient. To save the most energy, look for appliances that are Energy Star labeled.
Conserve Hot Water
Heating water consumes a lot of energy — almost 20% of your home’s total usage, in fact. Washing clothes in cold water instead of hot, taking shorter showers, and using less water overall can all help reduce your hot water consumption. You can also lower the tank’s thermostat to lower the temperature, although this is best done by a professional. Investing in a newer, more efficient water heater can also help save energy.
For Year-Round Energy Savings, Choose Window Film
If you’re looking for ways to save energy at home all year long, look no further than window film. Applying window film to your home can stop energy from, quite literally, flying out the window.
Improves Energy Efficiency
3M™ Sun Control Window Films reflect up to 78% of the solar heat that travels through your windows. They’re engineered to work faster as the sun’s angle changes throughout the day. So even when the sun is at its highest, and it’s the hottest part of the day, 3M Window Films will be working toward blocking out heat to keep your home nice and cool. Similarly, window film also improves the insulating properties of the glass, effectively turning single-pane windows into double-pane and double-pane windows into triple-pane. These window tints are designed to help retain warmth so you can experience the energy-saving benefits of window film no matter the season.
Utilizes Natural Light
Another energy-saving benefit of window film is that you don’t have to sacrifice natural light for energy savings. It allows sunlight to fill the room but reflects heat, so occupants are comfortable all day long without relying on artificial light sources for illumination. Best of all, it’s practically invisible, so you can maintain the original appearance of your home.
Window film doesn’t just conserve energy, but it also gives your home an added layer of protection that blocks UV rays and fights against fading. To learn more about installing window film in your home, reach out to our experts today!
Mr. Tint provides 3M Window Film installation to homes and businesses throughout North Carolina and South Carolina. As a 3M Authorized Window Film Dealer, we offer only the highest quality materials and employ the most skilled technicians. Contact us for a free window film consultation.