5 Products That Can Help You Save Money and Energy in Your Apartment

When it comes to cutting your carbon footprint, there are all kinds of steps you can take. For one thing, you can take the 3 Rs to heart by reducing the amount you consume, reusing whatever you can (instead of buying disposable items), and recycling items that you no longer need. You could also add a fourth R to your list by purchasing reclaimed furniture for your apartment. You can take public transportation or ride your bike instead of driving a car. You can eat organic. There are many, many ways to go green. So when it comes to cutting energy usage in your apartment, you shouldn’t be surprised to learn that there are all kinds of options. Although you may not be able to install solar panels or a tankless water heater, there is no shortage of ways to save energy at home. Here are a few to try that could also save you some money.

1. New lighting. You might not be able to install the most efficient LED fixtures throughout your apartment, but you can certainly use CFL bulbs in overhead lighting. They fit in standard fixtures and although they cost slightly more than incandescent bulbs, they use only about a third of the energy and last ten times as long, so you’ll save a lot on household illumination in the long run. In addition, you can still outfit your pad with LED table and floor lamps to save even more.
2. Energy Star appliances. Regardless of whether you need large or small appliances, you should look for the Energy Star label when you buy. This will ensure that your fridge, dishwasher, washer, and dryer all give you the functionality you expect while using far less energy. And you can also find smaller appliances that bear the Energy Star label like toaster ovens and coffee makers, for example. You might think that buying these items second-hand will save you money, but if they don’t bear the Energy Star seal of approval, chances are they will end up costing you more over time.
3. Efficient electronics. Just as there are energy-efficient appliances, there are also electronics designed to use less energy. And while you shouldn’t have too much trouble finding items like televisions and other monitors, you might have to do a little more digging to secure products like computers equipment that requires less energy to run. That said, it’s certainly not impossible to find computers, printers, and other common household electronics that live up to Energy Star standards.
4. Ductless AC. If you’re paying an arm and a leg for the central air in your apartment, you might want to consider installing a modern, ductless unit that is designed to save energy. There are a couple of reasons why this option is ideal for an apartment, in particular. For one thing, it can be placed in a window so you don’t have to damage any walls. In addition, it is used for a single room, so you don’t have to pay to cool your entire apartment, just the room you’re using. And you’ll cut back on your home electricity usage significantly in the process.
5. Energy film. Another great way to reduce your reliance on air conditioning is to coat your windows with energy film. This cling film is easy to adhere to windows (and remove if necessary) and it can cut the sun’s heat-producing rays by as much as an estimated 90%, helping to keep your apartment cool. And if that’s not enough to satisfy your desire to go green and save some money in the process, just hit up websites like http://www.electricityprices.org.uk, where you can find several more energy-saving tips.