The effects of the climate crisis are intensifying, and everyone needs to make an effort to change their lifestyle to be more sustainable. Using less energy at home is one of the best ways that you can do that. In addition to doing your part to help the environment, you can reduce your monthly energy expenses. Here are five simple but effective ways that you can conserve energy.

1. Use a Renewable Energy Source

Much of the energy that’s used on large power grids is derived from non renewable sources that create carbon emissions. Many states even continue to use coal as an electricity source. Of course, this unnecessary fuel source should have been eliminated long ago, but private interest groups have fought diligently to preserve it despite its obvious harm to both air and water quality. You can lessen your dependence on energy that comes from power plants that are harmful to the environment by installing a renewable power source in your home such as solar panels. The best solar panels are affordable and capable of producing a significant volume of energy. You could install a system that can supply enough electricity to major appliances and heating equipment or even enough electricity to power your entire home.

2. Get Your HVAC System Serviced

You should see some change in your home’s heating and cooling costs as the seasons change, but very significant changes could indicate that your system isn’t operating efficiently. When an HVAC system hasn’t been cleaned or serviced in a long time, it will likely have to work much harder than it should need to. Improper calibration or clogged coils could make it difficult for air to pass through. In particular, the air coming out of it may not be as cool as it is supposed to be. Your system will have to run almost continuously just to keep up, and it could cause damage that shortens its useful lifespan. Have your system cleaned and inspected every year to ensure that it’s not wasting energy.

3. Install Energy Efficient Ceiling Fans  

Using fans to circulate air throughout your home is a great way to use less energy on your home’s cooling costs without compromising your comfort. An energy efficient ceiling fan in a large room will enable you to set your thermostat to a higher temperature and reduce your overall energy usage. You can open your windows to let in fresh air instead of relying on forced air through your HVAC to cool off.

4. Use LED Lighting

To save electricity on lighting, you can put in new LED fixtures or simply put LED bulbs in the fixtures that you have. LED lights use a lot less energy than traditional incandescent lights and even fluorescent or halogen lights. Also, the bulbs last a lot longer and need to be replaced less often. Not only will you reduce your energy usage, you’ll avoid producing unnecessary waste.

5. Be Smart About How You Power Electronic Devices

Many electronics continue drawing power even when they’re turned off. For example, streaming devices, computers, and routers will draw power continuously. It may be impractical to unplug every electronic device in your home when you’re not using them. Chargers will continue to draw power from outlets even when you don’t have a device plugged into them. You can make it easier to power off your electronics by plugging them into a power strip or a surge protector. Instead of having to unplug electronics, you can simply turn off the switch on your power strip.

Ultimately, some smart investment in eco-friendly home improvements and a couple of easily manageable modifications to your habits at home can yield considerable savings on your monthly energy bill. Being energy efficient shows that you recognize the seriousness of the climate crisis. Collectively, the efforts of environmentally responsible individuals can make a difference and add to the increasing public demand for widespread change in how energy is produced and used.