Every one of us faces significant energy costs on a monthly basis. From gassing up the car and heating/cooling the home to even watering the lawn, most of the activities we do directly or indirectly consume energy and contribute to our carbon footprint. Fortunately, technological advancements in recent years have given rise to some really innovative ways in which we can reduce our carbon footprint and make our homes more environmental friendly. Here are a couple of those innovations we think every house should adopt for a better, cleaner future.
Install solar arrays / panels
One of the best ways in which you can reduce your energy consumption and carbon footprint is to opt for solar panels aka photovoltaic cells, which would use the sunโs rays to generate electricity for your household. Even though this might be an expensive option, it is a onetime investment that would give you lucrative returns for longer periods.
Install solar water heaters
If you consider a solar array to be too expensive, opt for a solar water heater instead. In addition to costing much lower for setup, this option would also enable you to cut down on your energy costs significantly. Installing and maintaining a solar water heater is also much easier and more cost effective when compared to entire solar arrays. So consider setting one up in your home.
Install rainwater harvesting systems
Now this is one energy reduction technique that can be achieved with minimal effort. A rainwater harvesting system is simply a system you build to collect rainwater. It is as simple as collecting water in buckets when it rains or placing a barrel or cistern underneath the roofโs gutter system to collect the water that drains out of it. You can later use this water for purposes like flushing toilets, irrigation and watering plants.
Insulating the house
A lot of energy is lost in a house due to poor insulation. Without proper insulation, your home will tend to lose more heat in the winter as well as more cool air in the summers. This would force you to work your heater/air conditioner more, thereby leading to more energy consumption. SO insulate your home properly and repair leaks and cracks immediately to reduce your energy consumption.
Installing energy monitors
An energy monitor is a simple, inexpensive device that lets you know how much energy you are using on a real time basis. When attached to your homeโs main power cable, it transmits a periodic signal telling you how much energy you are using then and there. Installing one in your home would enable you to keep a tab on the amount of energy your house consumes on a continuous basis.
Summary
Reducing your energy consumption is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint. The pointers mentioned above would help you create a household that is greener and a much better place to live in for generations to come.
