Imagine riding an exercise bike that’s connected to a single lightbulb. With very little effort or time spent on the bike, you could light that bulb with no problem. Now imagine riding that same bike, but this time you’re trying to light 100 light bulbs at once. How much longer do you think it would take to achieve the same result?
All of the utilities that make modern homes comfortable take energy to run, from the hot water you shower into your oven, clock, and indoor lighting. If it doesn’t naturally occur in the great outdoors, it uses energy to function.
Thankfully, there are many ways you can reduce your energy needs so that powering your own homestead is possible. Finding ways to be energy efficient is one of the most important steps you can take toward making sustainable homesteading a reality.
How Much Energy Do Typical Households Use?
Energy use is measured in watts, which describe the rate of energy flow. 1000 watts are equal to one kilowatt per hour (kWh), which is enough power to run one 100 watt light bulb for 10 hours. Most energy companies charge homeowners for their energy use by kilowatt.
In 2015, the average American home at 2000 sq. ft. used roughly 11,604 kWh of energy in a year. Because most households have access to unlimited energy, many homeowners are unaware of how much energy they use on a daily basis. The typical American homeowner could save thousands of dollars a year if they took the time to understand and implement energy-efficient strategies in their home.
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, most of the energy used in American homes goes toward heating, cooling, and lighting. The next largest category of energy use is for appliances, including refrigerators, microwaves, washers and dryers, ceiling fans, and entertainment devices like television.
Finding ways to become more energy efficient is a huge step toward mindful living. It’s especially important if you’d like to take your homestead off-grid and produce your own energy. In addition to being better for the environment, reducing your home’s energy use will also cut the cost of your energy bills.
Here are five things you can do to achieve maximum energy efficiency and increase your independence as a homesteader.
1. Add Extremely Thick Insulation
Substantial insulation is one of the best and least expensive ways to reduce energy use in your home. Ideally, your house should be an airtight box – with thick walls, double or triple-paned glass, and layers of insulation in the basement and attic.
Making your home airtight keeps it cool in the summer and warm in the winter, which means your heating and cooling costs will be reduced year-round. Many homeowners worry about letting their home breathe, but the real issues with thick insulation come from pollutants and humidity.
Human activities like showering and even breathing create humidity inside your home. Without a way for this humidity to escape, it can lead to mold and eventually cause health problems. Many construction materials like fiberglass insulation and paint also contain pollutants that can contaminate your air and make it unsafe to breathe.
One of the best ways to improve your air quality is to use eco-friendly building materials that don’t contain harmful chemicals. Some homeowners also “bake” their homes to release VOCs from new paint so that their exposure to these toxins is limited.
There are many eco-friendly alternatives to fiberglass insulation, including rock wool, denim, cork, and icynene spray foam. Each type of insulation comes with its own set of benefits and level of cost, but as a general rule, natural material always insulates more effectively than synthetic options.
2. Rethink Your HVAC System
Having an effective ventilation system is another important step for maintaining healthy air quality in a well-insulated home. Energy recovery ventilation systems are a good option for low-efficiency homes because they use seasonal temperatures to reduce operating costs.
If you insulate your home well, your energy costs for heating and cooling will automatically go down. However, because HVAC units are the leading cause of high energy use, it’s a good idea to make this part of your home system even more efficient.
For a traditional central heating and cooling system, the best way to reduce energy use is by choosing newer, energy-efficient models. However, you can also explore alternatives to typical HVAC models. More efficient options often cost more to install but save you money each month on your electric bill because they take less energy to run.
For instance, geothermal heating uses resident heat in the ground to warm your home. During the summer, the process reverses, and the heat from your home is transferred safely into the ground. Although it can cost between $11,000 and $25,000 to install, it doesn’t require any electricity to run.
Another way to naturally reduce HVAC energy use is by building your home according to net zero energy guidelines. This approach uses the position of your home in relation to the sun to reduce your need for heating and cooling during different seasons. Depending on your location, the best position for your home will vary.
3. Purchase Low-Energy Appliances
After your HVAC unit, appliances cause some of the highest energy expenditures in your home. Modern households have a vast array of these helpful devices, including microwaves, dishwashers, refrigerators, and washers and dryers. Electric clocks and security systems could also technically be considered appliances.
In return for their energy cost, appliances bring convenience and save homeowners time. In addition to saving you time, many appliances also save you personal energy. For instance, consider how long it would take to wash and dry your clothes by hand and how tired you would be afterward.
Making your appliances more energy efficient is simple. First, consider which appliances you really need for everyday life. Can you get by without a microwave? Would you be willing to hang-dry your clothes instead of using an electric dryer? Keep the things that are important to you, and make the decision to lose the rest.
Next, do what you can to make your appliances as energy-efficient as possible. Choosing new models when it’s time to replace your old ones can save you energy, as many new models take less energy per use. Appliances marked with an Energy Star have been certified by the EPA as energy-efficient compared to older models.
The way you use your appliances can also affect how much energy they take. For example, washing clothes in cold water uses less energy than running a warm water cycle. Running a security system 24/7 instead of only at night will double its energy needs. Consider your needs and find ways to use your appliances as efficiently as possible.
4. Choose Efficient Lighting Options
Lighting your home efficiently is another important way to reduce your energy needs. While most people know to turn the lights out when they leave a room, there’s so much more you can do to brightly light your home while using less energy.
For instance, some light bulbs are more energy-efficient than others. Examples include LED bulbs, smart bulbs, and compact fluorescent bulbs. These bulbs last longer and use less energy to run than older light bulbs, so replacing your bulbs with newer models is one way to increase your lighting efficiency.
Humans have been using artificial light for only around 200 years, and growing research shows that it causes stress to your eyes and skin and can disrupt the circadian rhythms that promote healthy sleep and energy. In response to these concerns, LED lights have been adapted into human centric models that are both energy efficient and promote good health.
Of course, there are many ways to light your home in an energy-efficient way without light bulbs. Some other options include kerosene or propane lanterns, candles, and battery or solar-powered flashlights and headlamps. These options all require fuel or energy of some kind, but they are more mindful ways of using light and can help you reduce your energy consumption.
Using natural light is the most energy-efficient way to light your home. You can install skylights or sun tunnels into your roof to bring free light into the darkest corners of your home. Relying on natural light will shift your everyday rhythms so that they are in tune with each season and the daily cycle of the sun.
5. Make a Plan for Hot Water
Heating water can account for as much as 25% of a home’s total energy use. Hot water is typically used for showers, laundry, dishwashing, cooking, and handwashing throughout the day. Thankfully, there are several ways you can save energy and still have access to hot water.
One of the easiest ways to reduce energy use for hot water is to switch to a tankless water heater. This kind of water heater warms water as it’s needed instead of storing hot water in a large tank. Changing the kind of fuel you use can also help – gas is generally cheaper and more efficient than electricity.
Some people opt for less traditional methods of heating water, like using solar or geothermal energy. These models usually take a high initial investment but are more energy efficient than traditional models over time. They may work more or less effectively depending on where you live.
Of course, changing your habits can help too. Taking shorter showers, washing your clothes in cold water, and using cold water to wash your hands can all reduce the amount of water your house is working to heat. Combine new habits with more energy-efficient models for the best results in energy savings.
The number of times you flush your toilet is another way that water can impact your energy use. The typical toilet uses between one and two gallons of water per flush. It takes energy to bring this water in and out of your home, so flushing less can reduce your daily energy use. Low-flow or dual flush toilets can also help, as they work to reduce the amount of water used per flush.
Best Energy Sources for Your Homestead
Once you’ve assessed your energy needs and done what you can to reduce energy consumption, the next step is to decide how you’d like to power your home. There are several options available, but some will be better suited to your climate, personal goals, and finances than others.
For example, many homesteaders invest in solar panels that bring their household energy. However, solar panels are expensive, and you could need as many as 33 panels to get a supply of 1000 kWh per month. Of course, the number of panels you need will depend on your location, whether you have a south-facing roof, and the energy capacity of each panel you install.
If solar panels are out of your price range for now, you could always consider investing in solar-powered devices, like solar-powered flashlights or shower heating systems. This way, you can benefit from free energy without having to make such a large initial investment. Tweaking your home to be more energy efficient can also make solar panels more affordable.
Other ways to power your home include hydroelectric and geothermal systems. The feasibility of these options depends on your location and budget, but both are effective ways to sustainably support your home’s energy needs. Wind turbines and hand-powered devices are other effective options for powering your home.
Having multiple power sources can be a wise move since the sun isn’t always out and one or more of your devices could experience damage and need repairs. Whatever power source you choose, it’s essential that you plan to generate and store more power than you think you need to cover accidents, rainy days, and dark nights.
Less Is More
Powering your own homestead is possible if you reduce your energy needs and optimize efficiency in your home. Lowering your energy use will save you time and money and make it more feasible to go off-grid or even sell excess energy back to energy companies.
Without optimization for energy efficiency, your home uses hundreds of kilowatts for daily tasks each year. Learning to be efficient starts with understanding your personal energy needs and finding energy-efficient ways to meet those needs. You can start to become more energy-efficient by thinking through the five steps above.
Reducing your home energy use is a process of continual reevaluation and improvement. Over time, the choices you make and the new habits you form will add up to create the mindful, sustainable life you’re pursuing as a homesteader. Start on your energy-efficient journey today.
[Note: This was a guest post.]
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