What is Energy Efficiency?

Last updated on December 12, 2023

Energy efficiency means using less energy to perform a task that gives the same results.

Energy efficiency is a safe measure to attain net-zero emissions of C02, to combat climate change, to reduce energy costs, and to create healthy competition for businesses.

When you operate an energy-efficient home; you use significantly less energy for cooling, heating, and for running your appliances.

Moreover, an energy-efficient mentality will ensure that all your appliances are energy efficient and will lower your costs and will help conserve the environment.

Even though investing in energy efficiency seems straightforward and offers an easy win, energy efficiency is not just about using less energy. It is a wake-up call for users to become more aware of how energy is dispensed.

Additionally you will understand the processes of production, use, and waste, and will allow you to adopt ways that enhance efficient and effective use of energy in your daily life.

Ways to Make Your Home More Energy Efficient

1. Run Large Appliances in the Evening

Your washer, dishwasher, and dryer consume a lot of energy while they operate, and they usually operate for long periods of time. Accordingly, if you are on time-of-use rates, it is advisable to use these appliances in the evening or during the weekends.

Moreover, washing your clothes on a short cycle and using the air dryer option for your dishwasher will ensure that the appliances use less energy and you get to save some money.

2. Hang your clothes on a clothesline

Where possible, it is advisable to hang your clothes outside to sun dry during the warm months, and during winter, you can leave your clothes to air dry inside. Air dryers are responsible, on average, for about 6% of energy use in homes.

3. Tend to your Furnace

Well-maintained furnaces use less energy compared to older deteriorating models. Annually servicing your furnace will ensure that it runs efficiently and does not strain while dispensing heat.

Moreover, regularly replacing the filters every 3 months ensures that the air moves smoothly through the unit and prolongs the furnace’s life.

4. Insulation

Ideally, the insulation should make your building as airtight as possible. Accordingly, it should ensure that the outside covering of your house is designed to lower heating and cooling needs.

For new buildings, you can choose high-performance insulation or non-traditional wall units that offer extra insulation. Moreover, you can replace your doors and windows that are not air leak proof.

5. Invest in the right ventilation units

To maintain acceptable levels of good air quality inside your home, functional ventilation units can help ward off excess moisture.

These units can also regulate the quality of air that enters and exits the space. Heat recovery ventilator units heat the incoming air using the outgoing air from the premise.

6. Use LED lights

Replacing conventional lighting with LED lighting can reduce your energy consumption by 75%. Moreover, you can install motion sensors, especially in areas not frequently used, such as conference rooms and restrooms to further reduce your energy use.

How to Calculate Energy Efficiency

When energy is converted from one form into another, some of this energy is lost during transmission, mostly in the form of heat.

The proportion of final energy produced to the initial energy needed to produce it plays a major role in energy conversion.

Energy efficiency is calculated by dividing the energy output by the initial energy input.

That is why the conversion efficiency of your lighting, heating, and household appliances is crucial in determining the overall energy efficiency of your premise.

The higher the conversion efficiency, the more energy efficient your house is. However, this can vary based on a variety of factors, including insulation.

In a nutshell, Energy Efficiency = (Energy Output/ Energy Input)* 100

Example;

An electric car will consume 30kWh during a drive and transfer 15.4 kWh to the wheels. What is its energy Efficiency?

Energy Efficiency =15.4/30 * 100 = 51.3%

In Conclusion

You cannot afford to waste energy that you have spent a lot of money to purchase.

Monitoring your energy consumption will ensure high efficiency.

This article highlights the key options to adopt if you want to lead an energy-efficient lifestyle.

Fossil based energy production is a key contributor to the negative global effects that are causing environmental pollution. Moreover, just as severe its effect is on our environment, its financial cost is a heavy burden.

It is the responsibility of everyone to be more energy efficient by using LED light bulbs, insulating their premises, properly ventilating the space, and more.

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