Fossil fuel and energy consumption are the biggest contributors to climate change in this day and age. Everyone who realizes the damage that excessive energy consumption causes to the planet actively tries to reduce their carbon footprint, and the best way to do so is to start by reducing our home’s carbon footprint. Homes consume tons of energy and fossil fuel to be up and running in various systems such as cooking, plumbing, drainage, and lighting, and by small tweaks around the home, one can reduce their carbon footprint immensely.
If you want to make your home more energy efficient in the same regard, given below are three things that you should be doing:
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Upgrade your plumbing
Your home’s plumbing system is the root cause of much of the waste that happens around your home. Plumbing inefficiencies cause water waste and energy consumption amounting to hundreds and thousands of dollars in households in the United States alone.
Invest in tankless water heaters which as opposed to regular heaters consume less energy as they do not store any water in them. You should also invest in professional drain cleaning services to clean your drainage system, reduce weird smells, and avoid additional energy costs. It is a good idea to also invest in low-flow fixtures that essentially moderate the flow of water leaving from taps.
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Update air conditioning systems
Air conditioning systems working improperly also contribute to a ton of waste and energy consumption around the home. Hence, in addition to your plumbing systems, you should also consider investing time and energy into making your air conditioning systems efficient. If you have ducted air conditioning at your home, you are already on the right path.
It is a good idea to regularly clean the outdoor condensing unit of your air conditioning system. You should also vacuum all vents and ducts when you sense a buildup. Consider insulating all exposed ductwork to ensure that any of the conditioned air does not leak out of your home. All of these are no-cost ways of updating your air conditioning system to make them more energy efficient.
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Pay attention to your laundry
Laundry rooms in homes are also major contributors to a home’s carbon footprint, and you should hence also pay attention to your laundry room. There are little steps that you can take in your laundry routine that will lead to a ton of water and energy consumption.
For instance, you should consider washing your clothes in cold water, as heating water for washing purposes takes up a ton of unnecessary energy. Invest in a leak detector that alerts you whenever there is a leakage in your washing machine or dryer to save up on water costs and reduce waste. Consider ditching the dryer and using a clothesline instead which isn’t just energy efficient but also good scientifically as your clothes need to be dried out in the sun for a 100% cleaning.
Conclusion
Energy efficient homes have a great impact on the environment. Not only do they reduce the home’s carbon footprint, but they also help homeowners reduce costs and lead an environmentally-conscious lifestyle.
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