Improve Your Home's Energy Efficiency with These 7 Changes

Home improvement projects that help the environment and save on energy costs are a couple of the many good reasons to tackle energy-efficient upgrades. A growing number of options for small and large-scale energy-saving home improvements are available on the market. Keeping in mind that these projects don't all have to be completed all at once is important. Instead, you can make a gradual transition to a more energy-efficient home utilizing our tips below:

Install a Programmable Thermostat

A programmable thermostat enhances heating and cooling efficiency by enabling homeowners to set their climate control systems to achieve optimal temperature for minimal cost. For example, a programmable thermostat makes it possible to turn the temperature down when no one is at home or when everyone is in bed. Also, once you program the thermostat, it will automatically alter the temperature with no other manual adjustments required.

Insulate! 

Insulation is specifically designed to help keep cool air inside during the summer and warm air inside during the winter. Older houses can be drafty, and even the best insulation can break down over time. When your home has trouble maintaining temperature, the HVAC system in your home may run more frequently, leading to spikes in your utility bills. Adding newer, more efficient insulation is one of the easiest ways to lower your monthly utility costs—and you'll notice significant savings when the weather is particularly hot or cold.

 Energy-Efficient Lighting

Easily one of the fastest and most cost-effective home improvements is to add energy-efficient lighting. LED light bulbs not only last much longer than traditional incandescent bulbs (about 25 times longer), but they use much less electricity while still providing the same amount, if not more, light. Compared to an incandescent bulb, LED light bulbs use about 75% less energy. Plus, LED bulbs are made with more environmentally friendly materials than CFL bulbs. While the original LED bulbs had a stark white color that was cold and off-putting, modern LEDs come in various colors, offering the same warm-white tones as traditional incandescent bulbs. 

Upgrade Your Appliances

An energy-efficient home upgrade you can make over time is replacing your older less energy-efficient appliances for newer more energy-efficient appliances. Make sure you know the life expectancy of your current appliances, as they may become less energy-efficient towards the end of their life span. Refrigerators, washing machines, and dryers are at the top of the list for highest energy consumption. Replace them on an as needed basis, but do your research on which brands have earned the Energy Star seal of approval.

Replace Your Water Heater

One big home upgrade that can certainly payoff is installing a new water heater. Electric heat pump water heaters (HPWHs) are now available from all major water heater manufacturers, making it easy to choose electric over the less efficient fossil fuel options.

Install Ceiling Fans

With your air conditioner and ceiling fan operating, you can lower your thermostat by 4 degrees without losing comfort during warmer months. Additionally, ceiling fans can do more than just keep you cool in the summer. During colder weather, they can save energy in the reverse setting by circulating hot air that rises to the ceiling and blowing it back down into the room.

Replace or Seal Windows and Doors 

If your current windows are more than two decades old, consider replacing them with more efficient models. If you don't require an entire home window replacement, storm windows are an easy, economical way to increase the efficiency of older, single-pane windows. If you aren't ready to replace yet, you can add weather stripping or caulking around windows and doors, eliminating drafts.