solar power t shirts

solar power t shirts

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When it comes to climate control, over the last few decades we have gradually been able to realise complete comfort. Today central heating means we can now literal control our climate and always be comfortable in our own home. From smart sensors that notice the smallest changes in temperature, we are quickly perfecting ways to control temperatures in our super-sized homes.

While the functionality and affordability of many central heating systems have improved, there has been a greater "hidden" cost associated with our need for comfort. With heating and cooling estimated to be about 60% of our energy footprint, keeping your bedroom toasty while your in the kitchen is in actual fact just wasting energy and your hard earned dollar.

So for those that are either interested in reducing your energy footprint or would like to save some coin on your next energy bill, here are four simple tips that will make a big difference.

1. Limit the area that is heated

Just by limiting the area that is being heated will reduce your bill. While central heating is a handy luxury, if you would like to make a serious dent in your electricity consumption, then only heating the areas in your home that are being used is the best way to go. This may mean steering clear of central heating all together and reverting to smaller low cost heaters in each of the rooms that are actually in use. This little tip alone can reduce your energy consumption by up to 10%.

2. Be prepared to adjust to a more temperate climate

By not needing to warm up your home to a temperature so you can wear shorts and t-shirts, you can make cost savings of another 10%. Now I am not talking about living like an Eskimo. But by just reducing the temperature in the house by a few degrees will make a significant difference to your consumption. In this case consider dressing according to the climate conditions. For me it means putting rugs on wooden floors, wearing knitted jumpers indoors and wearing socks!

3. If you can't live without central heating, then choose a cheaper alternative

The important take home point here is to remember that controlling the temperature in a house with central heating is usually more costly than using smaller heaters to warm specific areas. Of the different central heating options, geothermal systems are cheapest to operate but are the most costly to install. They are also safer than gas/oil and cheaper to run than electric systems

4. Insulate, Insulate, Insulate!

The biggest expense in heating you home is directly related to how well your home is insulated. This means more than throwing a few batts into your ceiling cavity. Where you can, block up any drafts caused by windows, doors and wall cracks. If you are looking at insulating, there are some really good environmental friendly products out there, so look around. Whichever way you choose to go with this, make sure that there are no gaps between the insulation. You would be surprised how much heat can escape through even the smallest cracks. The benefit of insulation is that it not only will keep your home warmer in winter, but it will also keep your home cooler in the summer months.

For more information about different ways to save electricity, check out my blog at http://www.waystosaveelectricityblog.com.

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