An energy-efficient home is a home with lower utility bills and a smaller carbon footprint. When you make your home more energy efficient, you are not only making a financially sound choice, but an environmentally friendly choice as well. If you are interested in making your home more energy efficient, try taking advantage of the following tips.
1. Turn Down Your Thermostat and Dress for the Temperature
Your home’s heating and air conditioning use the most energy, and if you run it all the time, you can face a high utility bill. To help lower your energy costs and improve energy efficiency, you can turn down your thermostat to 68 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter and up to 78 degrees in the summer. Although adjusting the thermostat can lower bills, you can also draw your curtains and blinds to block out the sun’s rays. When it is cold, you can open the blinds to let the sun in and warm your space.
If you are still uncomfortable in your home, you may need to dress differently. During the winter, you can add an extra layer of clothing and during the summer you can dress down. This can make you more comfortable in your home and reduce the time you have to run your air conditioning or heat.
2. Use Cold Water
The higher your home’s water temperature is, the less energy efficient your home will be. However, no one wants to take cold showers or wash dishes in cold water, but you can replace hot water with cold water when you are washing clothes. Constantly using warm or hot water can increase your energy bill and reduce efficiency. Try washing clothes that aren’t heavily soiled in cold water, and as an additional plus, you may notice less shrinkage, fading, and bleeding after changing the water temperature. You can also try handwashing some dishes instead of running your dishwasher when it is only partially full.
3. Unplug Electronic Devices
If you are like most people, you rely a lot on electronic devices. These devices use a considerable amount of energy, even after you turn them off. It is actually believed that most of the energy used to power household electronics is consumed when they are off.
This use of energy is known as standby power. Simply unplug your devices to prevent currents from flowing. If you utilize power strips, you can unplug several devices at once. Enable settings that save power on your devices – an easy thing to do is to lower the brightness of your device’s screen. You can also consider upgrading to newer, more energy-efficient devices.
4. Insulate
You can make your home more energy efficient by creating a barrier that stops heat loss in the winter and heat gain during the summer months. You can do this by ensuring your home is properly insulated. A significant amount of your home’s cooling and heating cost is caused by heat gain and the loss of heat through walls and windows.
Insulating your home and investing in thicker glass windows can prevent heat from leaving or entering your home. Insulation can also help you maintain a consistent indoor temperature, reducing the need to utilize your heating or cooling system all the time. This can lead to lower energy consumption, lower energy bills, and a more comfortable living space.
5. Buy Energy-Efficient Appliances
Although there are ways to save energy without spending money, you may want to consider making greater investments if you truly want your home to be energy efficient. There are a number of energy-efficient appliances, electronic devices, and fans on the market, and they can help you save energy and money on your utility bill.
If you intend to remodel your home, or you simply need a new dishwasher, you can ask your retailer if they have any ENERGY STAR options available. These products may have a slightly higher price tag, which may be frustrating at first, but over time, they can save you money. The sticker price is only part of the energy-saving journey, especially when you consider the fact that these appliances have much lower annual operating costs.
6. Install Solar Panels
Have you considered installing solar panels? Solar panels convert light from the sun into electricity using a process known as the photovoltaic effect. When the sun’s rays make contact with the solar panel’s cells, they excite the electrons, creating an electric current. An inverter turns this direct current (DC) into a usable form of alternating current (AC) electricity.
This process does not put any additional strain on your home’s HVAC system, and the energy created is clean and renewable. Although solar panels may seem expensive to install, they can significantly reduce your electricity costs. They also last a very long time and there may be government incentives you can take advantage of.
7. Upgrade Your HVAC System
One of the best ways to save energy is to purchase a modern, energy-efficient HVAC system for your home. When replacing your old HVAC system, you will want to choose a new system that is the correct size for your home and has all the features you need. A system that is too large will cycle on and off too often, wasting energy, and a system that is too small will struggle to cool and/or heat your home.
An HVAC professional can help you determine the amount of heat your home loses so you can select a properly sized unit with high ENERGY STAR ratings. ENERGY STAR-rated HVAC systems meet stringent guidelines set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Energy (DOE). You will also notice considerable savings on your electricity bill when you install an energy-efficient HVAC system.
8. Change Your Light Bulbs
LED and compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs are far more energy efficient than incandescent bulbs. LEDs tend to be the most energy-efficient option since they use significantly less energy and last up to 25 times longer than incandescent bulbs. Although they may cost slightly more upfront, their extremely long lifespan and energy savings make them a financially sound choice in the long run.
You can also consider installing a smart lighting system that allows you to control your lights from anywhere and schedule automatic on/off times. Some systems can even detect when a room is empty and turn off the lights automatically.
9. Schedule a Home Energy Audit
A home energy audit can help you take a detailed look at how much energy your home uses. Professional auditors use a variety of specialized tools to find energy inefficiencies and recommend improvements. Some electricity companies offer free energy audits, which can be taken advantage of by any homeowner. During the audit, the auditor will go from room to room in your home and examine past utility bills.
10. Take a Look at Your Water Heater
Your water heater utilizes a considerable amount of energy, especially if it is the traditional type. By switching to a tankless water heater, you can save significantly more energy and money. Tankless water heaters provide water on demand. If you choose not to switch, you can still ensure your heater is as efficient as possible by regularly flushing it, insulating the hot water pipes, and setting the temperature to 120 degrees.
Make Your Home More Energy Efficient
Mend Services offers a variety of plumbing, heating, and electrical services to the Austin area and beyond, including AC service, heating repair, and water & air quality. Our professionals take pride in their jobs, and we always strive to satisfy every customer. We also offer 24/7 emergency service. Contact us today to learn how you can make your home more energy efficient.
