How to Make Your Home Energy Efficient?
People are becoming increasingly conscious of their carbon footprints and seeking out ways to save energy in every way possible – no matter how big or small. Making your home energy efficient is one important step in this direction. Whether it is something as simple as turning off the lights and appliances when not needed or investing in low-carbon and renewable technologies to generate your own energy – every initiative in this direction is a sure-fire way to save energy while reducing your utility bills. These go-green drives will ultimately help us to reduce our carbon emissions and keep our environment clean and healthy for ourselves and the next generations.
Let’s explore a variety of ways that can be easily incorporated in your daily life-style and help you make your home energy efficient:
1. Insulate your home: Keeping your house well insulated and effectively sealed is one of the best ways to save energy. It makes your house more comfortable while you can significantly reduce the cost of keeping your house warmer in winters and cooler in summers. Make sure that doors, windows, walls, ceilings, roof, garage and attics are all well insulated. Consider replacing or upgrading your old, leaky windows by more energy efficient models or by using caulking or weather-stripping. Older homes often have lesser insulation and even with newer homes adding insulation will only bring long-term returns.
2. Switch to energy efficient lighting: Replacing traditional incandescent lightbulbs with energy efficient bulbs will help you save energy as well as money on your utility bills. You can choose from many lighting options that use less energy such as Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), Halogen incandescent and Light emitting diode (LED). Every-day measures like turning off lights when not in use goes a long way in saving energy. Make sure you have unplugged appliances or gadgets when you are done using them. Keeping them on standby also utilizes significant amount of energy.
3. Replace old appliances: Old gadgets and appliances drain more energy than new, energy-efficient models. Consider switching to new appliances such as refrigerators, dishwashers, AC, washing machines and microwaves to save on energy and your electricity bills. While buying new appliances and products to make your house energy efficient, always look for the ENERGY STAR label. Products with ENERGY STAR meet strict efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy.
4. Upgrade to a high efficiency furnace: If your furnace is more than 15 years old or you are a saddled with a furnace that need frequent repairs, it is time to switch to a more energy-efficient model. As with all appliances, consider choosing a furnace that has earned energy stars. It will use less fossil fuel thereby leaving less carbon footprints in the environment. Make sure you are changing and cleaning the filters regularly so that furnace is not overburdened, thus using more fuel to burn. Seal the ducts to prevent heat loss. And most importantly, add a programmable thermostat so that your furnace works only when needed.
5. Start using renewable technology: You can start taking small steps towards making your own electricity. Install renewable technology such as solar panels or small wind turbines to help you generate by using clean, low carbon technology. It will save energy, cut your utility bills and lower carbon emissions for a cleaner, healthier environment.
6. Switch to smart meters: Consider replacing your current gas and electricity meters with smart meters. This next-generation meter helps you assess how much energy you are using in real-time and how much it is costing you. It is an efficient way to make informed decision on where to cut wastage and make changes to your energy usage accordingly.
7. Make your hot water system more efficient: You can do that by keeping your water heater warm at 120 to 140 °F. There are new range of modern and energy efficient water systems that automatically turn the temperature to 140 if you let it move beyond this range. You should also pay attention to keep your hot water lines insulated so that they stay warm for long time. You can consider switching to fixtures for showers and baths that uses low-flow.
8. Plant trees and shrubs outside your home: You can plant a variety of trees and shrubs depending on the location, weather and the requirement. Deciduous trees will keep your house cool in summers by providing shade. Since these trees lose their leaves in fall and winter, they allow the sunshine to stream in your house and make it warm in winters. Shrubs and small trees act as wind barriers and slow down cold drafts in winters.
Considering the impact these carbon emissions have on the environment and our health, it is only right that we all take small steps as individuals and as a community to invest in ways that can make our homes energy efficient. In addition to these multi-fold benefits, these initiatives will help you make your house attractive to potential buyers. Your home will secure a good value in the real estate market and help you sell your house quickly.
Are you ready to list your house for sale? Is your house up on the listing for too long? Do you want to find out quick tips to sell your house more quickly? If you want to make your house more valuable, read Tips to make your house look ‘ready for sale’.