Nowadays, people are doing everything they can to become more energy efficient. Along with saving the planet, it’s become easier than ever to save green while going green. These homes reduce the use of non-renewable resources, conserve energy, and don’t contribute to the greenhouse effect. These homes provide significant savings over conventional homes. Energy efficiency isn’t just for a select few people–anyone can and should go energy efficient. Besides the monetary benefits, you also get the privilege to enjoy a few tax breaks. In this post, we’re going to take a look at some easy and affordable ways to make your home energy efficient.
Improve Your Insulation
One of the best energy saving tips to make your energy efficient home more energy efficient is to look at your insulation. If you have poor insulation in your home, you’ll be letting heat right out of your house in the winter months.
Not only will this cost you, it’s also bad for the environment. The key here is to make sure you have proper insulation, and that other insulation techniques are in place. You can either do this on your own or pay a professional to do the insulation for you. So, as we’ve seen, poor insulation is:
- Bad for the environment
- Expensive
- Unreliable during the winter months
Replace Your Windows
Your windows can cause you to lose cool air in the summer and heat in the winter, which puts a dent to your energy bills over the year. You must discover the best window replacement company and replace your windows immoderately. Some older types of windows aren’t as energy efficient as they probably should be in this day and age.
Double panel windows with vinyl frames are much better to go with than single pane windows that have aluminum frames. You can also have your windows tinted or open up the blinds to let some light into the house. If you’re having trouble, you can always hire someone to take care of it for you. Once again, it’s best to:
- Use double panel windows with vinyl frames
- Let some light in by open the blinds
Use Compact Fluorescent Bulbs
If you have the old traditional incandescent bulbs, then you’ll be energy inefficient over time. Better energy saving tips would start with first investing in some compact fluorescent bulbs, which are also known as CFLs.
At first, there will be more of an upfront cost, but these bulbs tend to last 12 times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs. They’re also more energy efficient, so you’ll see the difference in your energy bill right away. In summary:
- Traditional incandescent bulbs are inefficient
- Compact fluorescent bulbs last 12 times longer
- CFLs are much more energy efficient
Search for Energy Efficient Appliances
If you want to find a new appliance that will be more energy efficient, be sure to look for the logo marked “HE.”
Energy Star certified appliances may cost you more with the Appliance Insurance because they use the latest technology to help you save on electricity usage. But in the long run, you enjoy reduced electric bills. The energy savings alone is worth it.
Don’t Overuse Appliances
Even with all of these energy efficient appliances, you still don’t want to go ahead and overuse them. For instance, you shouldn’t keep your heater on all day during the winter unless needed. Also, you should find a comfortable setting for your thermostat and then keep it there. Constantly changing it will be energy inefficient.
You should also consider unplugging certain things when they are not in use, such as the oven toaster. Some appliances drain energy when left plugged in even though they aren’t turned on or operating. So again:
- Don’t keep your heater on unless you have to
- Keep your thermostat at a comfortable setting
- Unplug appliances when not in use
Consider Solar Panels
If you can afford them upfront, then solar panels are a worthy investment. Once you have them installed on your rooftop, you’ll see an immediate impact on your energy bill. Since these panels generate their own electricity, you might pay barely anything for your energy bill.
For what they offer you long term, these handy solar panels are incredibly cost effective. They might not be for everyone, but we’re only going to see more of them crop up as the world continues to follow the trend of going green. Remember:
- Solar panels cost more upfront
- They make up for this cost in the long term
- Solar panels can drastically shrink your energy bill
Schedule Energy Efficiency Audit
Here’s an excellent way to improve your home’s energy efficiency. An energy efficiency auditor will come into your energy efficient home and use a variety of tools and skills to figure just how energy efficient your home is and where you can make some improvements.
Consider it like a cheat code in a video game–you immediately get to find out from an expert what you could do to make your home more energy efficient. It’s well worth the cost.
Benefits of an energy efficiency audit:
- It requires a small upfront cost
- It takes away the guessing game of which needs changing
- It provides clear tips on how to improve certain areas in your home
- Auditors have advanced tools and skills to detect which part of your home needs improvement. You can also get to know more about them by power tool reviews.
Plant Shady Landscaping
It’s always good to use Mother Nature whenever possible for all of your energy efficiency needs. Planting the right trees and shrubbery in the right places can keep the hot sun out in the summer and the icy winds out during winter.
If you’re already using energy efficient appliances and have improved your insulation, the effect is significantly compounded, and you’ll notice a serious change in the energy efficiency of your home.
Benefits of shady landscaping:
- Planting the right trees and shrubbery prove helpful especially during the summer and winter months
- Efficient landscaping makes your surroundings more beautiful
If you need any kind of energy efficiency help in your home, it is advisable to find a company with solid experience and has the knowledge to meet your needs and budget. Get in touch with us today, and we’ll show you that we’re that company.
