5 Ways To Make Your Home More Energy Efficient
We’re always looking for more ways to save money, especially when it comes to our homes. One of the easiest ways to save money on your home is to make it more energy efficient. Embracing energy efficiency comes with two benefits.
The first benefit is the more well-known of the two. Creating a home that is more energy efficient helps reduce your carbon footprint. This is the benefit that gets the most attention from the media, as well as from those described as major proponents of green-friendly homes.
The second benefit comes down to your personal finances. Take energy efficiency in your home seriously, and you are going to be able to save a good deal of money. More to the point, you will begin to see those savings almost immediately.
When we appreciate these benefits in greater detail, it becomes easier to look for ways to improve the energy efficiency of our homes. Believe it or not, but there are more options out there than you might think. Furthermore, these are not options limited to brand-new homes because there are plenty of versatile options for older homes as well.
How To Create A More Energy Efficient Home
It is easy to get started on creating a more energy efficient home right now; and to help with that, here are five ways to make your home more energy efficient that virtually anyone can put into action:
1) Air sealing your attic. This is one of the first things you should do. Add caulking, spray foam or weather stripping to your attic, and you can dramatically improve the insulation qualities of the space. The better your attic becomes at insulating itself from the weather outside, the more money you are going to save on your monthly energy bills.
2) Automate your home. It may seem like technology of the distant future, but home automation products are here and can help you save money now. Home automation products keep you connected to your home at all times, and they optimize your use of everything from your lights to your air conditioning unit.
Always forgetting to turn the lights off in the living room on your way out? No worries, you can install motion sensors in your home that are programmed to turn everything off when the room is empty. You can also get a smart thermostat to make heating and cooling your home more efficient. A smart thermostat can learn the optimal times where you’ll need your home either heated or cooled. These are just two examples of the many options available to you in the realm of home automation. It’s a good idea to do some research into home automation by going online and talking to a professional.
3) Replacements. This is where things can seem expensive. We’re talking about doing things like replacing your furnace with one that is more energy efficient, and replacing your old windows. For either of these options, you will need to commit to a financial investment up front. The costs may strike you as a little high in the present, but the long-term financial benefits will offset those costs.
New products are getting better and better at keeping unwanted temperatures at bay, and making your home more comfortable. Furthermore, you don’t have to replace everything all at once. Even replacing your oldest windows, or swapping out a couple of older appliances for more energy efficient models, can accomplish a great deal.
4) Incandescent to fluorescent. Many homeowners have made the switch, but there are still some that have not. If you haven’t replaced your fluorescent bulbs with incandescent bulbs, now might be the time to take care of that. These bulbs can cost a little more, but their lifespan is 8-12 times longer than anything else you are going to find.
5) Solar panels. It is becoming easier and easier to have solar panels installed on the roof of your home. Even better, it is becoming cheaper to install; and the benefits don’t stop there. Solar panels alone can drastically reduce the amount you’re paying on your energy costs.
Solar panels are also a very reliable method for generating power. Even in places with an average amount of sunlight, solar panels can keep a home powered all day long. Additionally, depending on where you live, there are even tax benefits for homeowners willing to take the plunge into the world of solar power.
The suggestions listed above are only the beginning. As you will find, there are many small and big things you can do that to create a more energy efficient home. You can consider starting things off with an energy audit, and then from there, you’ll have a good idea of what parts of your home you can make more energy efficient.
Participatin vendors:
- George Kent Roofing & Insulation
