It has always been of interest to homeowners to do something about their home’s energy efficiency, but it would be fair to say that recent times have made this much more of a concern to many more people.
First came the Covid lockdowns, and simply by virtue of spending so much more time at home, saving on energy became more important. Now we have alarming rising energy prices related to certain geopolitical events, it has only become more important.
Creating an Energy Efficient Home
There are two ways to go about creating a home that is optimized for energy efficiency. The first, and more effective of the two, is a complete overhaul of the home and the installation of various tech in order to prioritize energy efficiency. This is unlikely to be an option for most people, as it is an investment that doesn’t come cheap.
The other method is to investigate all the practical tips that can help save energy around the home, and there are countless of these. Each of these practical tips will not in isolation make much of a difference (with a few honorable exceptions) but the point is to follow many of them, and cumulatively reduce your energy bill.
Indeed, energy efficiency is about small changes and good habits. But we can also outline the elements of an energy efficient home and give an idea what a home that is doing enough actually looks like.
There are many small installations that can be installed and innovative products which are not expensive and can help a lot. The one upside of the energy crisis is that we are living in a time when there are more energy-saving devices for the home than ever before.
Features of an Energy Efficient Home
So, here is what an energy efficient home actually looks like:
Renewable Energy Sources Where Possible
These can take many forms. In the very recent past, installing any of these would come at a cost, but the price of such devices has been plummeting in recent years and they have become more widely available. Examples include small solar panels for supplementary power, rainwater collection tanks to save on water, etc.
Energy-Efficient Updates of Traditional Products
People have been using kettles for decades, but they haven’t been using the same kettles. Sometimes, technology is just updated, and today it is often updated to be more energy efficient.
A good example are the energy efficient smart batteries produced by tech company Pale Blue Earth, which include USB C rechargeable AA, AAA, and 9v varieties. These three batteries have been in homes for decades, but not in smart rechargeable energy efficient versions.
Automatic Energy Saving Devices
These can be installed in thermostats, in water boilers, in modern ovens, and in more places too. This is the power of things switching off automatically once sufficient energy has been dispensed for their intended use. There is a lot to be said for just heating up your home then turning the power off – and one of these devices can ensure that you don’t need to remember to do that yourself every time.
Smart Integration
Some version of the now-famous “internet of things” smart home is something of a gold standard in energy efficiency. When devices in the home can all communicate with each other and work with data like temperature and water flow, the home can truly optimize its energy efficiency.
As a final point, it is worth stressing that while all this technology can help a great deal, it is still important to cultivate good habits. Do not leave that faucet dripping.
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