5 Ways Your Home is Wasting Energy

If high energy bills and reducing your carbon footprint are important to you, it may be time to consider solar panel installation. Regardless of the size of your home, wasting energy is extremely common. It's not just about turning the lights off when you leave a room or using electricity during off-peak hours—there are several ways we waste energy that most of us are unaware of. Avoiding energy waste and increasing efficiency, through solar power, conservation efforts, or both, can make a significant impact towards lowering energy bills and reducing our carbon footprint.

Read on to learn about some of the ways energy waste may be happening right under your own roof, and how to prevent what may be wasting the most electricity in your house.

1. Heating & Cooling

One of the easiest ways to detect energy waste is through rising costs. Has there been a spike in your bills with no rhyme or reason? Is your household's energy use consistent, but the bills are not? Heating and cooling are the most common culprits in wasting energy throughout the home. In the US, heating and cooling account for about 51% of a home's energy usage.

Maintaining your HVAC system regularly can help prevent energy waste. Replace air filters regularly, seal ductwork, and consider upgrading to a more efficient system if yours is outdated.

2. Old-School Appliances

Are you an old-school kind of person, or are you open to upgrading your older appliances? Advances in technology have taken the newer appliances on the market to new levels of energy efficiency. Outdated household appliances can suck down energy like nothing else.

Consider upgrading to ENERGY STAR certified appliances, which use 10-50% less energy than standard models. This includes refrigerators, washing machines, dishwashers, and more.

3. Windows & Door Drafts

Leaky windows and doors can let conditioned air escape, forcing your HVAC system to work harder. Check for drafts around windows and doors, and seal any gaps with weatherstripping or caulk.

Consider upgrading to double-pane windows if you have older single-pane windows. While the upfront cost is higher, the energy savings over time can be substantial.

4. Outdated Lighting

If you're still using incandescent light bulbs, you're wasting a significant amount of energy. Incandescent bulbs convert only about 10% of the energy they use into light—the rest is wasted as heat.

Switching to LED bulbs can reduce your lighting energy use by 75% or more. LEDs also last much longer than incandescent bulbs, reducing replacement costs.

5. Staying Plugged In

Even when electronic devices are turned off, they can still draw power if they're plugged in. This "phantom" or "vampire" energy can account for up to 10% of your home's electricity use.

Unplug devices when not in use, or use smart power strips that automatically cut power to devices when they're not being used.

The Bottom Line

By addressing these common sources of energy waste, you can significantly reduce your energy bills and environmental impact. Combining these conservation efforts with a solar panel installation can maximize your savings and help you achieve true energy independence.

Contact ESP today to learn how solar can help you reduce your energy costs even further!