Most homeowners don’t realize just how easy it is to save money on their monthly energy bills. While larger renovations such as installing solar panels or geothermal heat pumps will reduce your carbon footprint by quite a bit, most families don’t have the budget for such expensive upgrades. Here is a look at a few simple and affordable projects that will make your home as efficient as possible.
Ditch Your Old Thermostat
No matter how new your HVAC system might be, it is extremely difficult to cut back on heating and cooling costs without a modern thermostat. Smart thermostats give you unprecedented control over the temperature inside of your home, and they often pay for themselves in as little as a year. You can set these devices to turn on and off when you leave for work or right before you get out of bed.
Rethink Your Insulation
When a new home is being built, many contractors use the absolute cheapest insulation that they can find. While that might lower the initial building costs, it can wreak havoc on your energy bills. This is why you should always make sure that you know exactly what type of insulation that you have and whether or not it is efficient. When building a home and working with contractors, know that you do have a say in what type is used. If your home isn’t brand new (about five-years-old or older), then you should definitely make sure that your insulation is thoroughly inspected at least once a year and replaced whenever any signs of damage are noticed. If there is any sigh that your insulation isn’t sufficient enough, then speak to an HVAC contractor to see what they would recommend for the climate that you live in and for the type of home that you have.
CFL Bulbs
Within just the last few years, a number of amazing breakthroughs have revolutionized the lighting industry. CFL bulbs work just like older incandescent bulbs, but they use just a fraction of the electricity. Depending on a number of different factors such as how many people live in your home, CFL bulbs can potentially save you hundreds of dollars a year. These devices have also been designed to run continuously for thousands of hours without burning out.
Upgrade Your Doors and Windows
Even when your doors and windows are closed, you might be losing quite a bit of energy due to cracks, pinholes, and poor insulation. High-efficiency windows and doors, like the energy-saving doors in New Jersey, are specifically designed to prevent drafts and limit heat transfer no matter what the weather is like outside. This is important, because when heat or cold escapes the house it is not only wasting energy but it is wasting money as well. Due to how important these upgrades are, they can substantially increase the value of your home depending on where you live.
If you have begun to make changes to your home and are still struggling with skyrocketing energy bills, then you might want to schedule an energy audit. During these audits, an inspector can provide you with a comprehensive list of changes and upgrades that will make your home as efficient as possible.
