The forgotten climate solution - Energy efficiency
There are countless opportunities present in our surroundings to increase the energy efficiency of our house. In this edition of climate change solutions, we will talk about making our homes more energy-efficient, hence playing our role in fighting climate change.
Energy efficiency
The word "energy efficiency" covers a broader range of topics, including energy-saving, energy consumption, and energy sufficiency. It simply means using less energy for doing the same tasks—eliminating energy waste. The benefits of energy efficiency include lowering utility bills and reducing the demand for energy imports. At the same time, the environmental benefits include reducing greenhouse gas emissions, combating climate change, and breathing in cleaner air. These benefits span across the domestic and industrial levels. Of course, one can argue in favour of renewable energy technologies to achieve the same benefits. But, improving energy efficiency is the cheapest —more immediate —way to reach the prior mentioned goals and reduce fossil fuel use. For instance, an energy-efficient 12-watt light bulb uses 75-80% less energy than its traditional 60-watt counterpart; however, both offer the same amount of light.
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Choose energy-efficient appliances
The first way to make your home energy efficient is by using energy-efficient appliances and home devices. For instance, look for ENERGY STAR® and EnergyGuide labels when buying washing machines. They use 35% less water and 25% less energy than traditional cloth washers. Similarly, Energy star cloth spinners also use 20% less energy than earlier models. Moreover, new dryers come with moisture sensors; they turn off automatically when your clothes are dry. Hence, you can save energy and increase the usable life of your clothes. The same goes for other energy star-labelled appliances such as air conditioners, refrigerators, microwave ovens, etc.
Use efficient lighting technologies
Contrary to traditional incandescent light bulbs, compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are more efficient. For this reason, numerous countries have banned the import and domestic sale of incandescent light bulbs. In this regard, Cuba took the lead in 2006, followed by Australia and New Zealand in 2008, while other countries are still tailing them.
Traditional bulbs use more energy and have a shorter work life, requiring more frequent changing. In comparison, LEDs and CFLs use 25-80% less energy and work for 3 to 25 times more than incandescent bulbs. By 2035, most house lighting installations will use LED technology.
Moreover, you can also check for the energy star rating of the lighting and fixtures used in the house. When replacing older lighting with more efficient ones, prioritize high-traffic areas such as the kitchen and living room to get more visible reductions in electricity bills.
Home insulation
Buildings are responsible for 40% of the total energy produced, most of which is used for cooling and conditioning in hot and humid climatic regions and heating in cooler regions. From this total use, cooling accounts for 16% of the energy use in a house. Insulation is a feasible and cost-effective way to reduce energy use, reduce CO2 production and make the most out of the cooling and heating produced by air conditioning systems. Insulation keeps the inside temperature of your house more consistent. Insulation prevents heat loss or gains by obstructing the inside of the house and the temperature outside. Adding wall and roof insulation can save energy up to 77%. Insulation is also beneficial for other reasons. It is relatively inexpensive, long-lasting, and functions in summer and winter.
Window glazing
Windows are often a source of heating and cooling loss inside the house. One way to make your windows a source of energy efficiency is by window glazing. Window glazing happens when multiple layers of glass are fixed together with evacuated spaces. Glazed windows will reduce heat loss in the winter and cooling loss during the summer. Double glazing is an efficient style; moreover, there are ways to treat the glass to reduce the amount of solar energy penetrating through it.
Double-glazed windows can cut heat loss and gain by 30% compared to their single-glazed aluminium counterparts. Double-glazed windows consist of two sheets of glass with one evacuated space. But, triple glazing is also available to achieve even better results, reducing dollars spent on heating and cooling. Three sheets of glass come together in triple glazing with two evacuated spaces.
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Use tank-less water heaters
Water heating accounts for 19% of the energy use in the house. The traditional large water heaters store hot water in their tanks. As this water does not get used at once, it gets cold as time passes, wasting the energy used to heat it in the first place. Today, tankless, demand-type, or instantaneous water heaters are replacing them. Unlike traditional versions, they don't have a big tank; you only get hot water when needed. They work by a simple mechanism; when you turn on the cold water faucet, the water flows through the heat exchanger in the unit, where water gets heated by a natural gas burner or an electric element heats. This way, you don't have to wait for the whole tank to fill with hot water before being ready for use. Also, since they are smaller, you can box-fix them to a wall.
Prefer smart technology
Smart tech can automate your house to achieve your energy efficiency targets. It allows you to automate everything from home security to morning routine, so no surprise that it can reduce domestic energy expenses too. For example, using a smart thermostat is a great way to keep the internal temperature at an optimal level and reduce excessive energy use. Moreover, there is the option of installing smart lighting technology, which works on the same principle. Today, smart appliances such as refrigerators come with a camera to help you see what is inside without opening the door, preventing cooling loss.
Install Cool roofs
The roof sends a lot of heat downwards and increases the house's inside temperature. Nowadays, cool roofs are becoming very famous. They limit the heat that roofs can absorb and ultimately transfer less heat, reducing the need for cooling. Cool roofs can do so by reflecting maximum light instead of retaining it. The easiest way to achieve a cool roof in your house is to paint your roof a light colour; it will naturally reflect more sunlight. Other methods are using membranes, reflective shingles, and tile products. The impact of cool roofing becomes more pronounced when several buildings in the community have cool roofs; possible benefits include decreased emissions from power generation due to lower energy demands.
Rethink the landscaping
Landscaping in your house can significantly impact its energy efficiency. Keeping your landscape in shape requires an extensive amount of water. EPA estimates that half of the urban water is used to water plants, gardens, and grass. To make the landscape more energy efficient, replace grass with native plants and moss. Landscaping can also positively impact the internal temperature of your house. The placement of trees should help block sunlight during summer and allow efficient sunlight to help heat the home during the winter.
Conclusion
Your house has plenty of features that can save a lot of energy or make it more energy-efficient. The opportunities are endless, from insulating your home to using cool roofs and smart technology. Moreover, it would help if you also changed your habits: reduce water use, switch off the lights when not in use, and unplug the appliance while lying idly. Above all prefer energy-start-rated appliances and lighting to receive the same performance but at less cost.
That's all from me this month. Let me know your thoughts by hitting the yes or no button below or hitting reply!
Best wishes
Paul