Ways to Make Your Home More Energy Efficient

We live in a time where technological advances and innovation reign supreme. Thanks to these advances, we are able to live comfortably. Technology has made our lives substantially easier.

While everything in your home (from plumbing and electricity to your television, smartphone, and other devices) provide many amazing benefits, they also come at a cost. Just about everything in your home requires energy to run. This energy costs money. Some homes don’t use energy efficiently, which leads to waste and high monthly bills. If you’re looking to improve your home’s efficiency, here are a number of the best ways to do so.

Adjust Your Thermostat

Lower your thermostat while you’re not at home. Even an adjustment as small as three to five degrees can decrease your energy usage (and your energy bills). Dropping your thermostat by 10 to 15 degrees while no one’s in the house can result in annual savings of up to 15%.

Another option is to upgrade your old thermostat. If you’re currently working with an older model that requires manual adjustment, consider investing in a programmable thermostat. You can set your preferences (including temperature adjustments during the day) and your thermostat takes care of the rest. There are even some models that you can access from your smartphone and adjust no matter where you are.

Check Your HVAC

Your HVAC uses the most energy out of anything else in your home. You rely on it to keep the air in your home comfortable all year round, no matter what the temperature is outside. Over time, parts can wear out or break. This can affect the efficiency of your HVAC, causing it to work harder and run longer than it should.

Your HVAC should be inspected at least once a year (although twice a year is ideal). A trained technician can spot and repair small problems before they become major issues. Check your filter once a month and change it when it’s dirty. Keep your HVAC clean. All of these steps can help to boost your system’s efficiency. If your HVAC is old, you may also want to consider upgrading to a newer, more energy-efficient model.

Insulate Your Home

Insulation in your walls and attic helps to keep the heated or cooled air where it belongs—in your home. Poor insulation allows your comfortable air to escape quickly (which forces your HVAC to work harder). If your insulation is thin, old, or non-existent, it’s a good idea to have new insulation put in. There are a few types of insulation to choose from. Your installer can go over your options to help you choose the best one for you.

Add Solar Panels to Your Roof

There’s no getting around the fact that electricity can be expensive. Not only that, but producing electrical energy burns fossil fuels and releases harmful pollutants into the air. You can reduce your dependency on traditional energy by installing rooftop solar panels on your home. Solar offers a completely clean, completely renewable energy source to power your home. Any extra energy you generate can be sold back to the grid. You can also take advantage of a federal tax credit, which allows you to deduct 30% of the installation costs from your taxes.

Replace Your Lightbulbs

This might seem like a small change, but switching out your traditional incandescent lightbulbs for CFLs or LEDs can make a huge difference. These types require less energy to provide you with the light you need. They also last longer than incandescent bulbs.

Upgrade Your Home Appliances

You use a lot of appliances in your home. In your kitchen alone you have your refrigerator, dishwasher, oven, and stove. You also likely have a washer and dryer. If these appliances are old, they’re likely not very efficient. Newer models can greatly improve the efficiency of your home. The initial investment might seem scary. The cost savings over time will pay back the cost of your upgrades and then some.

Install Low-Flow Fixtures

Water is another utility that often goes to waste in homes. Curbing your water usage can help to reduce your bills each month. You can also help to make water usage more efficient by installing low-flow shower heads and toilets in your home. The standard shower head uses two and a half gallons per minute of water. Low-flow alternatives use twi gallons per minute or less. Low-flow toilets use a maximum of one and six-tenth gallons of water per flush versus the three and a half to seven gallons per flush that other toilets use.

Improving your home’s energy efficiency offers many benefits. One of the biggest is that you will see significant savings in your monthly bills. Some home improvements provide incentives. You also boost the value of your home. Should you decide to sell your home, you can typically get a higher selling price. You’re also likely to attract multiple buyers who want a greener, more efficient home.