Here at Green Home Cleaning, one of our main missions is to make cleaning your home as green and harmless as possible. While we feel like we make a difference by offering the services we do, it is pretty clear that every practical step we can all take towards a cleaner future is one worth taking. This is why for our August blog, we decided to share some info on ways you can assess the energy use in your home to see if you are being as efficient and eco-friendly as possible. What exactly is an at home energy efficiency assessment? Well, all it really means is taking a closer look at how much energy your house is using in total, and looking for ways to reduce the amount being used. The end of the summer is the perfect time to do a test like this, and the benefits are twofold, because not only will you be helping the environment, but you’ll be saving money as well! Here are some examples of good things to look at if you plan on looking at your energy use:
1 - The first and biggest thing to look for when assessing your at-home energy use is to check for drafts and any leaks in the insulation of your home. The most common places you may see these are near the windows and along the edges of your floors. Leaks can also be commonly found in doorways and around electric switches and outlets. Most of these leaks can easily be sealed off with some caulk.
2- In a similar way that cracks in the floors and gaps can let cold air in, outdated insulation can do the same thing in your walls and ceiling. One good thing to do always is to go into your attic if you have one, and check to see if there are any gaps in the insulation above your ceiling.
3 - Examine the lightbulbs being used in your home to make sure they are CFLs (compact fluorescent lamps) or LEDs (light emitting diodes). When buying light-bulbs, think about how bright you may want the space; sometimes it is much more comfortable, and energy-efficient, to use a lower watt bulb in smaller, cozier spaces. Additionally, if you can find ways to use dimmers, sensors, or timers on your light switches, your lights’ efficiency will be far better.
4- Most appliances made today have some sort of energy rating marked on the box. Usually, these ratings are presented in an easy to understand format so you can tell how much you are using. It is always best to keep track of how energy intensive your different electronics are so you are roughly aware of how impactful a product is.