Gadgets and Changes for Home Energy Efficiency

*This is a collaborative post.

Home energy efficiency is one of those things that most of us want to do but don’t get around to it. It can be complicated, but there are small changes you can make around the home to become a little more green, from finding better beauty products to replacing older appliances. Making changes as and when they are needed will help establish a good pattern of keeping as efficient as possible. If you are interested, here are some small tips to help get you started.

Let’s Begin Outdoors

It’s hard to find someone with a garden or yard who doesn’t love tending to them. Men, women and children love being proud of their outdoor spaces. However, it is laborious and takes time, which plays into efficiency, too! But don’t worry, there are tons of products you can use. Some of the best gadgets for home energy efficiency in the garden, such as a cordless leaf blower, are now rechargeable and don’t require polluting fuel. Brands include Worx, Ryobi and G-Tech.

Home Energy Efficiency and Beauty

Looking your best isn’t always necessary, but it definitely helps in some cases. Going to work, attending a social event, and special occasions are all typical times we spend a bit more time on our looks. Hair is a common issue, though, and it can be hard to manage, which is why 60% of women use a hair dryer. Of course, these use a lot of power. Yet some brands, such as Dyson, offer products that are vastly superior when it comes to how much energy they actually use.

Cordless Cleaning Devices

Being house-proud is something that is learned. It’s all too easy to let things slip, and this can make it much harder to clean the home. It can get so bad you just don’t want to do it and it snowballs from there! However, excellent cleaning products are much cheaper than they once were, and cordless devices, such as vacuum cleaners, offer efficiency and ease of use! There are also other cleaning devices available such as steamers, and even robot window cleaners!

A Spot of DIY

DIY is like Marmite! You either love it or hate it. Fortunately, you don’t even need to be that great at it these days, as there are affordable tools available. Some of the best, such as Ryobi, offer excellent power tools without the use of too much energy. These tools, such as drills, screwdrivers and even hedge trimmers, are rechargeable. Some brands, including Ryobi, also offer interchangeable batteries that will fit any of the tools from the same range of gadgets!

Charging for Home Energy Efficiency

There are tons of gadgets you can use, such as smart plugs. However, because most things are chargeable these days, the need for these is decreasing. But there is actually a right way and wrong way to charge your favourite screen-time devices such as laptops, phones and tablets:

• Use original manufacturer chargers for the best results.
• Don’t charge to 100% for the first few charging cycles.
• Don’t let the battery run out completely or charge to the max.
• Charge your battery to full capacity once per month.
• Only use fast charging when it is absolutely necessary.

At what percentage should I charge my iPhone?

There is often some confusion as to the best percentage. Most tech experts agree that an iPhone battery should be kept at between 30% and 80% for the healthiest battery efficiency.

Keeping a phone or any device for that matter, charged can be tricky if you want to use the battery more efficiently. Following the steps above will help maintain a healthy battery. However, it is always the best idea to thoroughly read the manufacturer’s instructions and follow those.

Modern Tech That Can Help

Lifestyle changes and switching to cordless devices are a great start towards energy efficiency. But these will only get you so far. There are other ways to ensure your energy isn’t wasted across the home. Some technology is impressive while other methods are surprisingly simple. For example, electric heating systems are more efficient than gas. Of course, this will cost to install. Yet radiator reflectors are popular and can reflect up to 95% of heat back into a room!

How About an EV?

Buying a new car can be one of the best treats you can give yourself. Like any appliance, cars get better as they advance and save money while being safer. One of the more popular choices these days is electric vehicles. Just a few years ago, there weren’t many options. It was either a Nissan Leaf or a Tesla! Today, all major manufacturers offer a wide range of EVs to choose from. They cost far less than petrol cars, have almost zero pollution and come with safety tech!

White Goods for Home Energy Efficiency

White goods like the fridge, freezer and washing machine are essential in a modern home. We all have them and need them. However, some are very power-hungry, which gets worse as they get older. It is recommended you replace white goods around every 10 years or so. This ensures they don’t use more resources than they should. However, it also gives you the chance to buy higher, A-rated efficiency products that potentially use much less electricity and water.

Reducing Your Home Consumption

Making changes to how you run your home goes a long way to helping you become more energy-efficient. Reducing how much power you use is a perfect example. Standby, vampire devices and leaving the lights on contribute to using more power. Making the necessary changes to become more efficient can cost though. Some city councils and charities offer free energy-saving products such as radiator foil, smart power strips and water-saving gadgets.

Outdoor appliances like a cordless leaf blower will help with home energy efficiency through all the seasons. However, even learning to charge your phone and other devices correctly boosts efficiency. Small changes across the home, such as reducing consumption will also help.