Three Tips for Improving Your Home's Energy Efficiency

As the temperatures climb higher and higher, so do energy bills.  Nobody wants to waste money on energy bills, especially in a home that is not energy efficient. If you have been looking for some ways to make your home more energy efficient, there are actually quite a few. There are certainly a range of options to make your home more energy efficient, from large scale and expensive to small scale and very inexpensive.  Whatever your budget, you can take simple steps to make your home more energy efficient and save on energy bills each month. One of the easiest ways to make your home more energy efficient is to install a programmable thermostat.  There is a programmable thermostat for any budget and they are all relatively easily to install.  If you do not feel up to installing it yourself, it is easy for a handyman to install it for you. SheKnows explains how to best utilize your programmable thermostat to reduce energy consumption, ” Purchase a programmable thermostat and set your temperature to go up while you are away or asleep during the summer and down while you are away or asleep during the winter. By simply setting your thermostat down (or up) you can save hundreds of dollars a year.” The next thing you will want to do when making your home more energy efficient is to make sure there are no leaks.  The seals around windows and doors, over time, tend to wear out.  When they wear out and start leaking air, your home quickly loses energy efficiency.  If you move a lighter around the seal of a window or door, you might see the flame flicker or move.  If you see this happen, it means air is leaking and a repair is needed. The United States Environmental Protection Agency stresses the importance of fixing air leaks in a home to create a more energy efficient space, ” Your home’s envelope – the outer walls, ceilings, windows, doors and floors – may be letting too much air into or out of the home. Hidden gaps and cracks in a home can create as much airflow as an open window, and can cause your heating and cooling systems to work harder. Sealing coupled with insulating your home’s shell is often the most cost effective way to improve energy efficiency and comfort. Windows can also account for a significant percentage of your heating bill in the winter, as cold air can infiltrate into the home through leaky windows and warm air escapes, making your heating system run more. And during the summer, your air conditioner must work harder to cool hot air from sunny windows. If you are replacing or installing windows, doors or skylights, you can reduce energy costs by installing energy-efficient windows, doors, and skylights in your home.” Lastly, another simple way to improve energy efficiency in any home is to add insulation.  If you did not build your home, you may not even be aware of how much insulation you have.  Your home may not have enough insulation to maintain energy efficiency.  Or, if your home is old, it may need new insulation.  If you are unsure how much insulation is enough, hire a contractor to come and assess whether you have enough insulation.  When you improve just these three simple things, your home will be more energy efficient and you will save money on energy costs each month.]]>