Your home is one of the biggest contributors to your carbon footprint — and your monthly budget. The average monthly electric bill in the US is roughly $137, but this can vary significantly based on the size of the home, time of year, location and energy usage habits. Water and gas bills also play a major role in a home’s environmental and financial impact.
Particularly during times of rising consumer costs, finding ways to help homes run smarter and greener isn’t just about helping the environment. It can also provide significant financial relief.
As Jeff Rodgers, Chief Marketing Officer at Indra Energy, a supplier of renewable energy plans, explains, there are several simple changes homeowners can make to achieve these goals.
1. Switch to Smart Features
“Smart home upgrades can be a powerful difference-maker in helping your home become more environmentally friendly,” Rodgers says. “A smart thermostat can be the biggest difference maker by learning your schedule and automatically adjusting indoor temperatures for optimal comfort and efficiency. However, features like smart lighting can also make it easier to reduce energy consumption by giving you better control and encouraging you to make smarter energy decisions.”
As just one example of how smart features can help, installing a smart lighting system would allow you to check in on your home after you’ve left for an outing. If you accidentally left the lights on, you could turn them off with a tap on your phone screen. Similarly, smart water control systems can alert you to a leak so you can shut off your water before the damage (and waste) gets out of hand.
2. Take Advantage of Renewable Energy Credits
A unique option for making your home more “green” is using renewable energy credits — a simpler and more financially viable solution for most homeowners than installing their own rooftop solar system. In fact, such programs can often be adopted with little to no direct cost.
“Using renewable energy credits means your household electricity is provided with credits generated from renewable, zero-emission energy sources that have been sold into the grid,” Rodgers explains. “This setup doesn’t require any equipment installation, but you still get full access to renewable energy for your home. Similarly, programs can match your natural gas usage to carbon offsets to help you live even more sustainably.”
3. Fix Leaks and Other Household Issues
Many homes use much more energy than they should — and quite often, relatively straightforward repairs will be enough to address these issues. The EPA reports that the average family in the US can waste 180 gallons of water per week because of household leaks — that’s 9,400 gallons per year. Finding and addressing leaks in showers and sprinkler systems will conserve water and lower this monthly bill.
Similarly, air leaks can often drive up heating and cooling expenses by forcing HVAC systems to work harder to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature. Tasks like sealing gaps around doors and windows, repairing weatherstripping or improving insulation can result in energy savings of up to 20%.
4. Adjust Your Habits
“We usually think of making big changes to our homes to make them smarter and greener, but a lot of the work really depends on making changes to our own habits,” Rodgers says. “Those little habits we have like forgetting to turn off the lights when we leave a room, taking long showers or leaving devices plugged in when they aren’t in use can all add up over time. Proactively considering how we use energy can have a much bigger impact than you expect.”
For some homeowners, it may be helpful to evaluate their current water and energy usage habits. This can make it easier to identify areas where you need to change — whether that involves setting a timer for how long you’re in the shower, using cold water instead of hot water for your laundry or double checking the lights. Setting goals and holding yourself accountable can help you gradually improve these and other habits over time.
5. Reduce HVAC Use
A home’s heating and cooling system accounts for about half of its energy use, making this one of the most important areas to consider when making a home greener. While using ENERGY STAR rated equipment and smart controls can make a big difference, these aren’t the only factors to consider. Once again, your daily habits come into play.
Rodgers explains, “For example, during the summer, you can reduce how much you use your air conditioner by closing the blinds during the day and using ceiling fans so you can keep the thermostat at a higher setting. Changing the air filters regularly will also keep your system operating at peak efficiency. You should also make sure you’re not accidentally blocking any air vents with furniture or decor so your system can cool your home effectively.”
Simple Changes With a Big Impact
As these examples illustrate, making your home run smarter and greener — and in a way that will lower your monthly energy expenses — doesn’t require drastic changes. Quite often, small and simple measures will have the biggest impact on your long-term energy consumption. By making these changes a priority for your home, you can begin having the kind of environmental impact you desire.