Here in 2019, it’s becoming more important than ever to be environmentally conscious, not just for earth awareness, but (as an added bonus) for the electric bill, too. Small changes can really make a big difference, so here are some easy ways to conserve energy. Whether carpooling to work or taking home tips from Tampa AC companies on how to beat the Florida heat, there are lots of ways to make positive, conservation-focused change.
Appliances
Cutting back on the amount of times larger appliances run will make some noticeable changes. For example, letting most clothes hang-dry instead of running an energy consuming machine cuts out significant usage. Similarly, washing a smaller set of dishes by hand or waiting until the dishwasher is absolutely full will achieve a similar effect. For other appliances, power strips can help significantly. Shutting off or unplugging cords that don’t need to be running throughout the day also helps. Even if lamps or appliances are not on, many household items still drain energy through what is known as “phantom power.” Unplugging these can make a difference. In this way, these small changes help on a larger scale and cut out the need to go out and purchase costly new energy-efficient appliances. These personal changes can achieve the same final product. Lastly, installing a home monitor to navigate and stabilize internal temperatures can truly keep costs low, too.
Bulbs
Light bulbs can make a significant difference in a home, apartment, or even office. Incandescent light bulbs are just not as efficient anymore and their outdated design consumes excessive power. Newer, fluorescent lights and diode bulbs (known colloquially as LED bulbs) don’t just consume significantly less energy, but they also last a wildly long amount of time. New bulbs are absolutely an investment worth making. The financial and environmental benefits are both clearly defined.
Transport
If a city is designed to be walkable, consider taking more trips by foot when other times a car or rideshare was the go-to decision. Public transportation choices also lead to having fewer people on the road, so when a bus, light rail, or subway system are options, these are the best ways to get from one place to the next. For the particularly health-conscious and ambitious, biking does so much to reduce a carbon footprint. If none of these options are available, carpooling is the next best thing. Again, small changes add up, and just putting one less car on the road for the day is a great place to start.
