Five Ways To Reduce Your Household’s Energy Use

I think we all agree we want to save Household’s Energy Use

An average Australian house will use 6,570 kWh’s of energy every year. That’s a lot of energy and a significant cost to you.

Home-energy-use-pie-chart-with-percentages-web
Image: Home SA.GOV.AU

There are two reasons for reducing your energy usage:

  • Saving the environment – the less energy you use the lower the number of fossil fuels being pulled from the planet. Of course, many energy providers are moving towards more green energy sources.
  • Money – saving money benefits you directly and is a great motivator for anything!
  • There are ways to lower your energy costs and that is by learning more about thermostats: Saving Energy & Money at Home

There are several ways in which you can reduce your energy use and save money:

  1. Check Your Electrics

Get your local electrician to take a look at your electrics. This is the best way to ensure you don’t have any dangerous wiring that could cause a fire or any unnecessary drain; that you might not even be aware of.

Electricians are trained to spot and fix any issue.

  1. Lower Your Thermostat

Lowering your thermostat on your heating by just one degree can result in huge energy savings over the course of the year. In fact, it is estimated that every degree increase over 20°C can increase your bill by 10%!

To help compensate from the reduction in your thermostat you can keep the heat in your rooms by keeping doors, windows and curtains closed.

You can also put on an extra layer to stay warm.

  1. Close Off Rooms

If you have a room that is never or rarely used there is little point in heating it all day and night. Instead, shut the heater off. Once a week allow the room to warm up properly, this will ensure you don’t get any problems associated with damp or cold.

Additionally, before you go to bed you should shut the heating off in all the rooms that you won’t be using first thing in the morning. Again, there is no point in heating unused space.

  1. Insulation

This is the greatest way to save energy because you simply won’t need to have your heating on as much. You can get grants to have insulation added into your ceilings and pumped into your walls.

The insulation will help to keep the heat inside your home and keep you warm in the winter, as well as cool in the summer.

Of course, this is an investment; the cost will need to be offset against the reduction in outgoings thanks to your energy saving techniques. A good level of insulation should pay for itself in 2 – 5 years.

  1. Energy Efficient Light Bulbs

An energy efficient light bulb will take longer to brighten than a standard one. But it will also use a third of the power. This makes them great at energy saving and reliving the strain on your wallet.

You can replace all the bulbs in your house with these. However, it is worth noting that you still need to turn off the lights if you are not using them; this is the best way of saving energy; simply don’t use it!

Related:
Heating Choice an Ethanol or Electric Fireplace
Spring Maintenance For Heating and Cooling
Seasonal Maintenance of Your Heating and Air Conditioning Units

The Benefits Of Glass Balustrades “Stairs”

New and Innovative Stairs

The Benefits if Glass #Balustrades
Sources: Bored Panda and Granddesignstairs.com

The balustrade is an essential and often overlooked part of stair design. It doesn’t matter whether your stairs are inside or outside, the balustrade will need to be carefully considered before you install the stairs.

No matter how stunning the stairs this will ensure it is fully integrated into the design. This has been true for centuries.

Of course you can install glass balustrades after the stairs are in place; you simply need to find the right system to lock it all into place. You can then appreciate these benefits:

Beauty

There is no doubt that a glass balustrade is a thing of beauty. A glass elegant will not always be fully visible, this adds to the elegance and sophistication of the balustrade.

In fact, because it can reflect light it will brighten and transform all of your interior space.

Light

No matter where your balustrade is a glass balustrade can allow light to flood through the house. This helps if light is low to lift your mood and make you feel like the outside is inside.

It can also ensure that you can see the stunning view from your own hoe, no matter where you’re sat.

Maintenance

The great thing about glass is that it is tough and requires virtually no maintenance. You will need to wipe it clean regularly, especially if you have children! This is much quicker and easier than some of the ornate balustrades you’ll find in houses and design shops.

You can even polish out scratches to ensure they look as good 5 or 10 years in the future as they did when first installed!

Space

Because light moves through glass and is reflected round the room it can dramatically increase the feeling of space inside your home.

This is not a benefit you’ll be able to appreciate if you use wood, metal or any other material for your balustrade.

Mixing It Up

The greatest thing about glass is that it is not a standalone material. You can have an entirely glass balustrade. Alternatively you can opt for a part glass and part virtually any other material. This can add to the aesthetic appeal and help it to feel in harmony with the rest of your home.

Strong

You’re first thought regarding glass balustrades is probably that glass is fragile and dangerous when it breaks. In fact, glass is one of the strongest construction materials currently available.

It also has the benefit of being extremely durable. Years from now it will have weather but look virtually identical to how it is today; that’s not something most balustrade materials can say!

Installation

Finally, glass is actually very easy to install. The panels will arrive pre-cut and with mounting holes already drilled into the right positions. All you need to do is attach them to the framework and enjoy. Alternatively, your supplier can install the glass balustrade for you. They’ll be in and out of your home in no time.

Take a look at some images online and you’ll be surprised at just how good a choice this is for your next balustrade.

Related:
How to Achieve the Industrial Home Design Trend
Basic Colors When Matching Interior and Exterior Design
Building and Designing the Perfect Home

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