This Earth Day, you don’t have to look far and wide to help the planet. You can do your part right from where you live. Consider adopting these energy-saving tips to show your love for our earth. And as a bonus, these tips can lower your bills, too!
Remember to turn down your heat every night, or program your thermostat
Many people already do this for comfort reasons. Did you know that around 18℃ is considered an ideal temperature for sleep? With a lower nighttime temperature, you’ll sweat less under the covers and wake up feeling more rested.
Many people forget to adjust their thermostat at night, but if you have a digital thermostat, there’s an easy fix: you could program it to lower automatically at a certain time. You could even lower your home’s temperature a couple hours before bedtime, if you plan on cozying up on the couch with a blanket and a good book.
By programming your thermostat to drop in temperature every night, you’ll sleep better, save money, and reduce your home’s carbon footprint.
Lower your heat when you’re out for a while, or on holiday
There’s no use using electricity, gas or oil to heat your home when you’re not there. Be kind to the planet and your wallet by programming your thermostat to 17℃ to 19℃ during the hours your family is out of the house.
And if you’re going on an extended vacation, you can keep the heat lowered. In fact, many experts say you can go as low as 16℃ when you’re away.
The same idea goes for using a home air conditioning system. If no one’s home, give the environment and your bank account a break by making sure the AC isn’t running full blast.
Consider a smart thermostat for the ultimate in convenience
With a smart thermostat, you don’t have to remember to turn the heat or AC down when you leave the house; you can simply adjust the heat and AC settings from the app on your phone.
Also, if your smart thermostat is integrated into your security system, you can program it so that when you set your system to “Away” and lock your house, your thermostat will automatically adjust to non-occupied settings.
A smart thermostat isn’t just about convenience; it can end up saving you money, too. A 2019 report by The Atmospheric Fund found that users saved anywhere from 6% to 23% on their electricity or gas bills once they install a smart thermostat.
Choose energy-efficient light bulbs, and switch off any lights you don’t need
Every bit counts. Look for light bulbs and fixtures with the ENERGY STAR logo, which shows they’ve been certified for high efficiency. Only keeping on the lights you need is another great way to reduce your electricity load. Timers and motion sensors can help ensure that lights are switched off when they’re not needed.
Also, why not try a smart light module, which lets you put your lights on a schedule? The module also lets you see what lights are still on when you’re away, and turn them off remotely. As an extra security feature, if your smart light module is integrated into your security system, you can program the lights to turn on whenever a security alarm is triggered—scaring away a potential intruder.
Protect your basement
Water leaks are the biggest cause of home damage. Not only can you end up with a huge, surprise bill and a renovation headache, but the construction debris from water damage would end up in the landfill. With a smart water leak detector, you can take action to protect your home when water is a trickle, instead of waiting until you have a flood on your hands.
When your water leak detector is integrated into your home security system, you’ll get alerted about a water leak on your phone, whether you’re home or away.
Set it and forget it
The best thing about making moves this Earth Day to lower your home’s carbon footprint is that the changes you make now will last for many years to come. You’ll also save on your energy bills today and far into the future.
At GardaWorld, we’re happy to send you a free quote for a security system that includes a smart thermostat, light module, and water leak detector, for the ultimate convenience of being able to manage home automation devices while you’re on the go. Give us a call at 1 833 GARDA 33 (1 833 427 3233) or request a quote online.