Going green is the “in” thing nowadays and this does not only applies to cars or certain materials people use everyday but also to how a particular home use energy efficiently and how it reduces its carbon footprint. However, people should realize that going green is not a fad that would die out after a couple of years but a new way of life and mindset that they should embrace not only to protect the environment and themselves but to prepare a future for the next generations to come.
There are already several initiatives put forward by various sectors in this regard, including energy deregulation in various states like Texas, which gives people the power to select energy providers. However, unless scientists find ways of producing significantly cheap electricity that are both renewable and environment-friendly, residents should find ways how they can have energy-efficient homes. This not only would be good for their wallets but would also be good for the environment - and the following tips can show them how.
The Home Energy Rating System Program
Residents can make their homes more energy efficient by following a few simple suggestions. To help people understand the energy efficiency levels of their homes, they can make use of the Home Energy Rating System or the HERS program.
The HERS program involves physical inspection of the various elements of a home, after which a rating scale that indicates zero to a hundred is provided the home. 100 is the reference home standard and the farther your mark is away from this reference point, the higher your home’s energy efficiency is. Not only that, a HERS inspection can identify various issues and problems in your home which you can improve on.
How to Make Your Home Energy-Efficient
An energy-efficient home can help you reduce not only your Texas electric bills but your homes carbon footprint as well. The following describes some of the more popular tips that could help you have an energy-efficient home.
* Harness the power of the sun not only by using a solar power calculator’s but in every aspect in the home where solar power can be utilized. This includes solar heaters and lighting systems. You can also save more energy by designing your homes in a way that you can maximize natural light and save on energy consumption.
* Heat/cold-air loss is one of the primary reasons why your electricity bills goes way up, so it is vital that you properly insulate your homes from cracks, fissures and openings where heat/cold-air loss can occur. In relation, you can also make use of quality, energy efficient windows that have special coating and structure that can keep hot/cold air from transferring to.
* If possible, change your old appliances with energy efficient models that require less energy consumptions in order to function well. This includes refrigerators, washers, dryers, furnaces and other electrical appliances used regularly at home.
* Thermostat settings need not be too hot or too low. Just set it at comfortable levels that would still be convenient to the inhabitants of the house.
There are several other methods and home modifications that one can do in order to turn your homes into energy-efficient domicile. You can either study these things on your own or seek the assistance of professionals to help you on your green journey.
About Shop Texas Electricity- Shop Texas Electricity helps consumers and businesses compare and shop for their electricity plans in Texas. Learn more about Shop Texas Electricity by visiting us at www.ShopTexasElectricity.com
As the founder of Shop Texas Electricity, Dawood Mirza has over 12 years of experience in the utility industry. Prior to founding Shop Texas Electricity, Dawood was Director of Alternate Sales Channels at Reliant Energy where he managed the acquisition strategy for movers and oversaw the Builder/Multi-family, Realtor and Mover direct mail channels. Learn more about Shop Texas Electricity by visiting us at ShopTexasElectricity