How to Create a Personalized Home Energy Conservation System

Notice I didn't say "how to install" an energy conservation system. To create an energy conservation system that's going to reduce your home's energy consumption requires a combination of conservation and efficiency, or choices and technology.
Here's how you create a home energy conservation plan that will help you reduce your home's electric bill.
Think about like this:
·        Conservation results from conscious choices over time.
·        Efficiency utilizes technology.

Start With Conservation
Conservation is not deprivation or lack.
Simply put, conservation is being aware of how much energy your home uses and making behavioral changes in your energy habits. Conservation takes into account the final end sum of the energy it takes to maintain your home's minimal comfort level.
The minimum comfort level of your home cannot be measured against another home. Factors vary with each home's location, family size, and family lifestyle.
If you live in Maine, your greatest energy expense may be heating your home; if you live in south Texas, your greatest expense may be cooling your home. A family of two (2) whose members work away from home five (5) days per week need less energy than a family of four (4) who work from home.
Think about. Look at the ways your home uses energy. Heating, cooling, heating water, cooking and storing food, lights, laundry, and electronic equipment.

Here are five (5) actions to begin reducing your overall energy use?
·        adjust your heating system thermostat down in winter,
·        turn your cooling system thermostat up in summer
·        take short showers instead of long baths
·        wash laundry in cold water
·        turn lights of when leaving a room

Now Add Efficiency
Efficiency is the use of technology to maximize our conscious conservation choices.
Here's how to apply technology to the conservation choices listed above.
·        Install a digital, programmable thermostat compatible with your heating and cooling system. Program the thermostat for the temperature settings that work for you during the day, at night, and while family members are away from home.
·        Reduce your water heater thermostat to 120 degrees (rather than the manufacturer's setting of 140 degrees)
·        Install a timer on your electric water heater. Set it to automatically come on during the hours your family actually uses hot water for showers and laundry. Set it to automatically turn off when no one is home to use it.
·        Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) when you replace your standard incandescent bulbs.
Making conscious decisions to reduce your home's energy consumption coupled with the technology compatible with your choices, creates a personalized energy-reducing plan for your home. In a sense, you put your energy conservation on automatic pilot.

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