We had the pleasure of having Amy from Sleep Help collaborate with us to write this article on how to reduce enery in the bedroom.
Amy Highland is a sleep expert at SleepHelp.org. Her preferred research topics are health and wellness, so Amy's a regular reader of Scientific American and Nature. She loves taking naps during thunderstorms and cuddling up with a blanket, book, and cats.
Your bedroom is your oasis of rest and relaxation, but did you know it can also be a source of great energy waste? There are lots of little ways (and some big ways too) that you can save money, lower your carbon footprint, and sleep better – all by making subtle changes to your sleep space.
1. Dim those lights
Not only is burning the midnight oil bad for your power bill, but it’s also disruptive to your sleep. Blue light, emitted by standard light bulbs, triggers your brain and tells you it’s daylight and time to be awake. If you expose yourself to lots of light before bedtime, it can affect sleep.
Consider dimming your lights starting an hour or two before bedtime. To make a deeper cut, stick to lamps, and don’t use the overhead unless you need to. Your brain sleeps best in total darkness, so skip the nightlights and don’t leave the bathroom light on either.
2. Turn down the heat
When the weather turns cool, you might be tempted to crank up the heat at night. Did you know this is not only an energy waster but can also prolong the time to fall asleep? Research shows that sleeping in a cooler room helps you fall to Sleep faster and can combat insomnia.
Skip the heater, save on energy waste, and sleep better in a room that's around 65 degrees (18oC). Invest in a well-made organic mattress that regulates body temperature and a seasonally-appropriate blanket for optimal sleep and stay away from the thermostat .
3. Seal the windows, draw the curtains
On a windy day, run your hands around the window and feel for airflow. To check for leaks, hold your hand up and see If sunlight hits yours hands through the sides or seams.
You can seal your windows with caulk to stop drafts. In winter, you might want to install plastic sheet sealant to save big on winter energy bills. Close the curtains to block light and heat. Keeping the curtains closed can also keep out light at night Which helps you sleep better.
4. Close closet and bathroom doors
When you turn on the heat or air conditioning, every open space will take in the warm or cool air. When you leave your bedroom closet door open, you’re losing a lot of square footage of artificially heated or cooled air. Your clothes don’t need A/C. Close the door and save!
The same goes for your master bathroom. While you don’t want it to get blistering hot or chilly in your bathroom, it doesn’t need to be at the same temperature as your bedroom. Close the vents partway in your master bath to minimize heat and A/C energy expense.
5. Don't overcharge devices
One of the last things most of us do before bed is plug in our digital devices. You might have a laptop, smartphone, and tablet all charging at night. Not only is that wasted energy when you leave devices constantly plugged in, but it's also Bad for the device.
When you charge for too long, you degrade your battery and its life expectancy. Your phone is best kept at 50-80% charge, according to experts. So, charge your phone until bedtime, then unplug your charger. Save on wasted electricity – And extend your phone's useful life!
With just a few tweaks, you can save energy and sleep better – what's not to love about that?
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