Running a home is no easy feat. You have to juggle bills while ensuring that the home is kept warm and lit.  If you are not careful, you can end up with a situation where you are actually wasting money. You need to find ways to save energy, not waste it, and in this article we will look at a few things you can do to conserve your home's valuable energy resources.

Many people are completely unaware of the impact of wasting light in their homes. Lighting accounts for nearly 20% of your average energy bill every year. Taking charge of your lighting can really make a big difference when you're totting up the bills. Energy saving light bills are the key method in which you can reduce energy costs because they are more cost-effective and energy efficient than conventional bulbs.  Investigate them as a viable alternative to buying bulbs that are simply replaceable and a waste.

Another way in which you can reduce energy costs for your home is to think about the appliances we have. Many of our appliances have lights on them that stay on when the appliances are on standby. This includes equipment such as your DVD player or games console. Avoid wasting money in this way and wasting energy too by ensuring that you turn off your devices and appliances properly via the switch on the machine, or by turning off by the mains at the plug point.

Exclude that draught

If you have the heating on in your home, for example in winter, make sure the curtains are fully drawn. Consider draught excluders too around the home, because these help to stop heat from escaping. Heat loss is one of the biggest ways of wasting energy in our homes, but too many people ignore it. Take control of this aspect of your homes energy and you'll see a cost saving, and more energy efficiency.

Low energy appliances too are important too. There're plenty of them on the market, from dishwashers to microwaves. They simply use less energy, potentially30% less energy than conventional appliances. Buying these appliances and installing them in the home means that you are cutting down on your energy bills, and doing a lot for the environment too. They are well worth investigating for anyone who wants to run a more efficient home. Ask the vendor how much money you would save when buying the low-energy appliance. The cost of the appliance may be a little higher, but it will generally save you a lot of money in the long term.

If you' buying a home, ask to see the energy performance certificate. This shows you how efficient the home is when it comes to energy, and it also gives you plenty of ideas on how to improve the energy efficiency of your home. You should have one if you own a relatively new property. You can arrange to have one created for your current home, and if you're buying a new home be sure to ask to see one.  

 Sahail, guest writer.

http://www.homestandards.co.uk