Simple switches that can save you money...that won't break the bank

An important way to make a change for climate is to address energy use and greenhouse gas emissions at home. Sometimes thinking about all of the things that can be done to improve efficiency at home can be intimidating. If you are feeling overwhelmed, start small! There are a number of things that you can do right now to start your energy efficiency journey. All of the actions listed below have a low upfront cost, and will help get you started.

Water Usage

• Replace your shower head and go low-flow
• Replace your faucet aerators

Using proper aerators and low-flow showerheads reduces that amount of water that you need to use to get clean. This means less energy is necessary to heat the water and less emissions due to wastewater treatment. Plus, you save money on your water bill when you use less.

Lighting

• Switch to LED bulbs

LED bulbs use a fraction of the energy that incandescent bulbs use, and emit the same amount of light. They also last much longer. To get the most energy savings from your lights, ensure that you are only using lights when they are necessary - so remember to turn off the lights when you leave the room.

Temperature

• Weatherproof your home

One simple way to reduce draftiness in your home is to make use of caulking, weatherstripping or window films on and around windows and doors. This will help maintain the temperature of the house and avoid lost energy.

Compost

• Start composting now

Composting is a great way to deal with a large amount of household waste. The only cost here is to get the bin started which can be super simple to very elaborate, but they all do the same job. You can then use the compost to add nutrients to soil in your potted plants or garden! Here is more information on how to start composting.

If you are interested in some changes that you can make that are free, see our previous blog post. And be sure to check out our Action page to find more things you can do to be more energy efficient.