You might imagine that it would take a herculean effort to improve your home’s energy efficiency.
However in reality, all it really takes is making a few changes here and there that when combined, make a real impact.
And you don’t have to do them all at once.
To prevent feeling overwhelmed and taking on a ton of debt to pay for updates to your home, just take on one thing at time as you can afford to.
Over time, as you make the changes, you should start to see a reduction in the cost to heat and cool your home.
1. Change out your appliances
This can be a costly change, but over time you should start to see small reductions in your bills as your appliances soak up less energy than your old ones.
When shopping for new appliances, look for ones with the HE logo on them, which means it uses less energy.
2. Use your appliances wisely
Even energy efficient appliances should be used judiciously.
For example, set your thermostats on a comfortable setting and keep them there. If you keep changing them up and down it uses more energy than if you left them in place.
Turn off and/or unplug your appliances when they’re not in use. You’d be surprised just how much energy they use, even with they’re just sitting there, turned off.
3. Switch your light bulbs
Go for compact CFL bulbs. If you haven’t already, replace all of your incandescent light bulbs with fluorescent bulbs to save money on your energy bills…and to save money on replacing them.
While they cost more than older type light bulbs, CFLs last up to 12 times longer…making them an economical choice too.
4. Add insulation/seal up cracks
Add more insulation to your home and check the weatherstripping around doors and windows to be sure it’s doing its job…stopping drafts.
5. Install a digital, programmable thermostat
What’s better than walking into a warm home on a cold night?
It’s really not difficult to install a programmable thermostat, and the ability to program it to fit your household’s lifestyle is really worth the time and effort, both in terms of energy costs and your home’s comfort.
6. Water management
Prevent scalding, save water and cut your electricity bill by:
- Setting your water heater thermostat to the “warm” setting (approx. 120°F – 130°F).
- Use low-flow fixtures (shower heads/toilets)
- Insulate your water pipes (helps to hold the heat in longer)
7. Replace your windows
Windows are a major source of heating and cooling loss, which of course hits your wallet in terms of higher energy bills.
Double panel windows and other vinyl frames are more energy efficient than single pane windows and aluminum frames. If you already have newer windows, consider tinting them and opening your blinds on sunny days to let your home warm up naturally.
If you found this post valuable, please share with your friends and family who are also looking for energy efficiency.
