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How do we use renewable energy at home?

Kathryn Kellogg
Sustainability Specialist
Kathryn Kellogg is the founder of goingzerowaste.com, a lifestyle website dedicated to breaking eco-friendly living down into a simple step-by-step process with lots of positivity and love. Kathryn is the author of two books focusing on sustainability, 101 Ways to Go Zero Waste and 101 Tips for a Zero Waste Kitchen. She is the spokesperson for plastic-free living for National Geographic, has been featured by the Guardian, CNN, Refinery29, and Bustle, and has a following on instagram of over 700k.

Kathryn Kellogg

Sustainability Specialist

Expert Answer

Check whether there are any renewable energy suppliers in your area. These companies work with your existing utility companies to make sure all the energy you use is supplied by clean energy sources. It doesn't cost anything extra for you, and in fact, you typically see your electricity bills go down.

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Question

How can I reduce the energy consumption in my home?

Kathryn Kellogg
Sustainability Specialist
Kathryn Kellogg is the founder of goingzerowaste.com, a lifestyle website dedicated to breaking eco-friendly living down into a simple step-by-step process with lots of positivity and love. Kathryn is the author of two books focusing on sustainability, 101 Ways to Go Zero Waste and 101 Tips for a Zero Waste Kitchen. She is the spokesperson for plastic-free living for National Geographic, has been featured by the Guardian, CNN, Refinery29, and Bustle, and has a following on instagram of over 700k.

Kathryn Kellogg

Sustainability Specialist

Expert Answer

The basic things are, switch your light bulbs to LED light bulbs, make sure that your windows don't let air seeping out. Make sure that your doorways are blocked, you know, they make those draft blockers in case your door stands really tall and lets a whole bunch of cold or hot air in. If you want to get into technical things that are really going to make a difference, installing solar in your home will be huge. But just because you can't get solar panels installed in your apartment, it doesn't mean you can't switch to renewable energy. There are several different types of energy providers. Companies like Arcadia Power and Clean Choice Energy work with your existing utility companies to make sure all the energy you use is supplied by clean energy sources.

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Question

How can I reduce energy consumption?

Community Answer

Try using one fan or light at at a time, then shutting it off before using another, and follow the other tips in this article.

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Question

Should baseboard heaters be turned off on the panel during summer months?

Community Answer

Sure, but just as a safeguard. Otherwise no, if your thermostat is working properly and you're not cooling the place down enough to activate the heat, then there's nothing being used or wasted.

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Can a power company regulate the amount of electricity entering a home?

Community Answer

Usually this is done by the size of the main breaker in your panel. Your panel has a maximum amperage rating, as do the cables supplying the electricity to your home.

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Question

Can load shedding be reduced if everyone follows this method?

Community Answer

Yes, it can be done. The more cautiously we use the resources and do our but in preserving energy, the more will can save resources for future generations.

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What percentage of energy costs is represented by lighting in my home?

Crystal

Community Answer

Not much. Most energy is used by heating and cooling. Using LED bulbs helps, but getting an energy star heating system will save you even more.

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