7 Ways to Maintain an Efficient Electrical Home System
Creating and maintaining a more sustainable household is an important concern, one shared by an ever-growing number of Brisbane home and property owners. Upgrading appliances and making even minor changes to day-to-day habits can help to lower electric bills while also reducing the environmental impact of the entire household. Learning more about the most common and effective ways to improve efficiency ensures that renovation efforts and home-improvement projects will be met with greater success.
1. New Lighting Fixtures
Compact-fluorescent light bulbs and high-efficiency LEDs are designed to provide performance comparable to conventional bulbs while using a fraction of the electricity. Investing in new bulbs and lighting fixtures is a simple, low-cost way to begin curbing electrical usage. Lighting the home using outdated bulbs, fixtures and technology could end up costing homeowners more than they might realize.
2. High-Efficiency Appliances
Home appliances are often responsible for the bulk of energy usage in any given month. From the laundry room to the kitchen, older-model appliances that may be unable to offer the same features and levels of efficiency as their newer counterparts could prove to be a major liability. When it comes to energy-efficient home-improvement projects, upgrades and renovations, replacing outdated appliances can often make quite a difference.
3. Upgrading the HVAC System
HVAC systems and equipment are among the electrical appliances that Brisbane Northside homeowners would do well to consider upgrading or replacing. Climate-control systems consume a huge amount of power during the course of their everyday operation and equipment that has been designed to be more efficient can have a profound impact on home heating and cooling costs. While fixtures and smaller appliances are often easy enough for homeowners to upgrade themselves, HVAC and climate-control component installation will typically require the services and assistance of a professional.
3. Sun Shades and Screens
A simpler way to reduce the cost of HVAC systems is to reduce the amount of strain that is being placed on them. Weatherized windows that are able to minimize unwanted heat transfer as well as solar shades, screens and window treatments can all help to keep an interior environment cool and comfortable. Reducing the need to run an AC unit in order to cool the home can often be a much easier undertaking than many property owners might expect.
4. Smart Thermostats and Automated Timers
Home automation has come a long way in recent years. Smart thermostats that can be accessed and operated remotely through use of a smartphone or other mobile device make it much easier to maintain a comfortable interior environment for less overall cost. Other home automation options may include lighting fixtures that are designed to switch themselves on and off automatically and even climate-control systems that are able to determine the hours of peak electrical demand in order to minimize their cost of operation. A smarter home means that homeowners will no longer have to choose between comfort and convenience or their own bottom line.
5. Replacing Insulation
Insulation is used throughout the home in order to reduce heat transfer. Inadequate insulation can result in many problems like an inability to keep cold air from escaping while running an AC unit or having unwanted heat bleed into a room from exterior walls that are subject to prolonged sun exposure. Re-insulating a home is a simple, low-tech and effective way to achieve superior energy efficiency, especially when used in concert with other methods like installing solar screens, weathering windows or upgrading the HVAC system.
7. Changing Daily Habits and Household Routines
New equipment purchase and installation is not the only way that Brisbane households may be able to help reduce their energy costs and electric bills. Simple changes to everyday habits and established household routines can also make a big difference. Taking shorter showers can help to alleviate the demand being placed on a hot-water heater while the addition of ceiling fans makes it much easier to cool the home for less overall cost. Homeowners who are serious about finding ways to maintain a more efficient home may find that making a few changes to their daily routine can help to maximize the impact that an upgraded home-electrical system or other home-improvement efforts may provide.
