Improving energy efficiency around the home isn’t as difficult as many homeowners think. In fact, a variety of simple techniques implemented into your daily lifestyle can dramatically improve efficiency, in turn decreasing energy consumption and energy costs, offering environmental benefits, and creating a more comfortable environment for everyone in the home. Tax incentives and rebates are also available when certain additions or improvements are made. If you’re ready for these improvements, use the five tips below to easily improve energy efficiency at home.
Improve Heating & Cooling Methods
Most of the energy used in a home is used for heating and cooling the home. To reduce the expenditure, the following heating and cooling improvements will improve energy efficiency in the home:
- Keep the curtains closed when the sunshine is beating down and when you want to better insulate the room.
- Use the ceiling fan to circulate heat and air through the home (clockwise in winter and counter clockwise in summer).
- Replace the filters in the HVAC unit every three months.
- Install a programmable thermostat in your home. These smart devices enable users to turn down the heat or air when no one is at home, with energy savings of up to $150 each year.
Install a Tankless Water Heater
Called a demand water heater, the tankless unit provides hot water as needed, reducing standby energy loss associated with a standard tank. The heaters save space as a bonus. Using a tankless hot water heater can save a lot of the energy that goes into heating a tankful of water.
Change the Lightbulbs
Incandescent lights only convert 10% of its energy to light; the rest turns to heat. LED bulbs and CFL bulbs reduce the energy by as much as 75%. Plus, these bulbs offer a longer lifespan than traditional incandescent lights.
Insulate the Home
Insulating your home is one of the best ways to create enhanced comfort and improve energy efficiency at home. As you seal off holes and other common leakage areas, you’ll increase the efficiency of the home while improving indoor air quality and reducing utility consumption and costs. The EPA reports that indoor air quality is as much as 10x worse than outdoor air quality. It is important that you take every possible measure to improve the air quality in your home so everyone breathes better!
Upgrade the Windows
Considering ⅓ of all energy is lost through the windows and doors, it makes sense to update the windows in your home with new, energy-efficient windows that minimize this loss. An array of energy-efficient window options exist to fit all budgets and architectural styles. Plus, they stop heat and air loss by sealing any leaks. If new window costs are out of your budget, consider adding storm windows instead. These windows add an extra layer of protection to your home at a more affordable cost.
Use These Tips to Improve Energy Efficiency at Home
It is fairly simple to improve efficiency in your home with the techniques above, and the time and investment are worth it when you see how much you are saving on energy bills. If you’d like to make a great impact on the environment, reduce the money that you spend on utilities, and get the most comfort from the day, use these tips in your home.These ideas are only a handful of the simple ways to improve the energy-efficiency in your home.
Roesner Real Estate Inspections offers home inspection services including energy inspections on new construction. Start your new home’s energy efficiency off right by having a professional inspector perform an energy inspection during the pre-drywall phase. Contact us to schedule your inspection.