Energy efficiency can benefit both the environment and your wallet. Here are a few simple strategies for making your home more energy-efficient.
Use an energy monitor to identify areas of excess electricity use and upgrade to LED light bulbs to bring down your bill. Plant trees to shade your home during summer and bare their branches during winter for additional heat gain.
1. Install a programmable thermostat
Programmable thermostats allow you to save money by automatically keeping your house at an ideal level when you are home and switching into energy-saving modes when asleep or away – potentially cutting your heating and cooling costs by as much as 15%! Plus, installing one yourself without needing professional help is easier than ever; simply purchase it at a home center or hardware store, follow its manufacturer’s instructions, and install. Always turn off all breakers prior to performing any electrical work!
Make your home more energy efficient by selecting appliances and electronics certified as ENERGY STAR qualified, which use 10-50% less energy than their counterparts while helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Look for their label to find them. Additionally, conduct a home energy audit in order to understand where improvements can be made to maximize energy efficiency in your home.
2. Install a wood stove or a pellet stove
As energy costs escalate, homeowners are seeking ways to make their homes more energy efficient. Doing this reduces unnecessary energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions as well as demand for non-renewable resources. However, making an energy-efficient home doesn’t need to be an overwhelming process of renovations; simply installing some basic tricks could save both money and electricity bills over time.
Wood or pellet stoves provide a natural and cost-effective solution for heating your home, requiring little upkeep or maintenance and offering superior heating efficiency compared to furnaces at an even more reasonable operating cost.
Pellet stoves require an exhaust system in order to safely release smoke and combustion byproducts outside your house, known as a flue system. A flue typically consists of an outdoor chimney pipe connected directly to your stove as well as an interior wall thimble inside of your house.
3. Install curtains over windows
Curtains and drapes add style and function to a room by blocking out sunlight in summer and keeping heat out of your home. If your windows stretch across several rooms, combine curtains with blinds for more control of light and privacy.
When hanging curtains, it’s essential to consider both the overall height of your ceilings and width of the window frame. Interior design guidelines advise hanging the curtain 8 to 12 inches above the frame in order to make windows appear taller.
If time and budget are at a premium, consider opting for a twist-and-fit rod that sits within your window frame without needing hooks. Just ensure to measure its interior before selecting an appropriate rod based on size and aesthetic – for maximum impact, hang curtains at least half foot above their frame so sunlight streams through more readily when they’re opened up.
4. Replace your windows
Your windows provide a barrier between your conditioned indoor air and outside hot or cold air, but older, poorly installed or single-pane windows often contain air leaks that increase energy bills significantly.
Drafts can be reduced and air leakage avoided with window sealing measures such as caulking around frame edges or weather strips or door sweeps in door frames, to keep air from escaping through your windows and into your living area. You can utilize caulk to fill gaps around frames while weather strips or door sweeps help prevent air escaping through these openings.
Replace single-pane or warped wooden windows with energy efficient double pane windows to increase energy efficiency in your home and reduce utility bills. However, before making this investment it’s wise to weigh up its potential cost against any other energy saving upgrades; you may find it worthwhile spending more now in order to enjoy lower energy costs for years.
