How to Create an Energy Efficient Home

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With the cost of powering homes rising, now is the ideal time to create an energy-efficient home. The soaring price of electricity and gas has been big news recently, and these costs show no signs of slowing down anytime soon. While you may not be able to change the fact that the price of natural gas has risen significantly, you can take a proactive approach to start saving energy to keep your bills at a more manageable level. If you are wondering how to ensure your home is operating in a way that is energy-efficient and lowers your bills, these tips should provide you with plenty of inspiration:

Change Your Light Bulbs

Switching your regular light bulbs for energy-efficient ones is perhaps the quickest and easiest way to reduce your electricity consumption. Light bulbs that feature the Energy Star logo use much less electricity and also last for a long time, so you will need to change them less frequently. So, replacing your light bulbs is an ideal way to make a noticeable difference to your home’s energy efficiency without too much effort.

Upgrade Your Windows

You may be wondering what windows have to do with energy efficiency, and you might be surprised to know that your windows have a significant impact on your home’s energy consumption. When you cool your home in the summer with air conditioning and warm it in the winter, you want to retain all of this air inside your home to keep it at a comfortable temperature. Ensuring that the cool air from your HVAC stays in your home without escaping is vital. Unfortunately, your windows may have gaps that allow the cool air to escape. Replacing your windows and choosing to use Renewal by Andersen windows instead is a great way to ensure that you get new windows that are the highest quality and designed to reduce your heating and cooling costs.

Install Solar Panels

Having solar panels installed is an excellent way to reduce the cost of your electricity bills and to help make your home more energy-efficient. Having solar panels installed in your home can also increase its value and make it more appealing to prospective buyers. How much money you save by having solar panels installed at your home depends on many factors. Factors that impact how much money you can save on your electricity bills include the hours that direct sunlight reaches the panels and the size of the system you have installed at your home.

Stop Using The Dryer

Minor changes to your daily habits can create a big difference over time, so simple things, such as no longer using your dryer, can significantly affect your energy consumption. Dryers use up a lot of electricity, so using yours regularly will cause your electricity bill to rise very quickly. If you are able to, using a washing line and hanging your laundry outside to dry will save you lots of energy and is so much better for the environment. 

Increase Your Insulation

Having a house that is poorly insulated can mean that your home struggles to retain a consistent, comfortable temperature. So, if you are trying to keep your home cool and using your air conditioning, this cool air could disappear out of your roof if your insulation is ineffective. Checking your home’s roof insulation to ensure it is good quality and able to retain your home’s temperature will ensure your home is operating efficiently and that your attempts to warm or cool your home are not in vain.

Service Your HVAC

In the heat of the summer, your HVAC plays a crucial role in keeping you and your family comfortable at home and ensuring that your living environment stays at a consistently cool temperature. But, if your HVAC is not working efficiently, it can send your energy consumption soaring. If you have noticed a sudden increase in your home’s energy consumption, and you are unsure of the cause, it is worth checking your HVAC, as it could be the source of the issue. It could be something as simple as cleaning your ducts (which you can either do yourself or with the help of an Air Duct Cleaning company), or a bigger problem that needs a professional to come out and fix. Having your HVAC serviced each year by a professional engineer is the best way to keep it in good working order. Without regular servicing, your HVAC’s performance can deteriorate, and it will need to work harder to try to keep your house at a consistent temperature. When your HVAC needs to work harder to perform its job, it uses up more electricity, so keeping up with servicing is a great way to keep it working efficiently.