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Whether you’re moving into a new house, planning to sell or simply sprucing up your home, you’ll likely need to make numerous decisions about color schemes, flooring options and furniture arrangement. While all these increase property value and reflect your style, it’s crucial to consider decorative options that also improve energy efficiency.
The advantages of sustainable energy efficiency are extensive – after all, who doesn’t want the feel-good factor of living in an eco-friendly home? Luckily, gone are the days when sustainability meant tacky and uninspiring decor. Nowadays, you can reduce your carbon footprint and save energy while maintaining a classy interior design.
Here are four ideas that will help:
Give Your HVAC System Space
Nothing is as vital to an energy-efficient home like the HVAC system. Before making any interior redesign decisions, it’s crucial to locate the vents, cold air returns, thermostat, and all of the other HVAC accessories and ensure they have enough space to function properly. For example, the vents should easily direct air to the center of the room and the thermostat should be away from any heat source.
If any piece of furniture is unavoidably close to a vent, you’ll need to adjust the vent fins or install a deflector to guide the air in the correct direction. These steps will save energy if your HVAC system is in good condition. You can also get professional advice and assistance or call JAK Services for furnace repair in North Richland Hills if you notice any problems.
Make Good Use of Your Windows
Aside from affecting your interior design choices, the type, size and placement of windows are important focal points when it comes to energy efficiency. They are the most frequent sources of drafts, and the summer heat they let in can leave your air conditioning system working overtime. Luckily, you can put all these problems behind you with relatively minor changes.
For example, pairing large windows with dense covers and curtains is the best option to improve energy efficiency. You can get plenty of free heat from large windows by letting the sunlight in when needed. The thick curtains will be helpful to prevent the loss of warm air to the outside as well. Use blinds with a reflective backing to block out unwanted solar heat during the summer months.
Choose Your Wall Paint Wisely
When considering redecorating your interior spaces, giving your house a fresh coat of paint is often at the top of the list. Depending on where you live, the wall paint color you choose may help cut your energy bill. For instance, you can reduce your lighting costs by painting your walls with bright colors. Thanks to its reflective properties, you’ll reduce your dependence on artificial lighting.
Dark colors, on the other hand, are excellent heat absorbers. They can warm up your home without depending too much on your furnace. As such, if your lighting bill is higher than your heating bill, opting for brighter colors is your best bet and vice versa. Keep these options in mind when choosing what color to use when repainting your home.
Save Energy With Your Furniture
Rearranging the existing furniture or bringing in new pieces is one of the most common ways to redecorate your home. However, most people don’t realize that furniture placement and the types of pieces you choose can affect your household’s energy efficiency. For example, don’t place furniture over any air vents, as your HVAC system will have to work harder to heat your home.
If your home is a little drafty even after investing in insulation, overstuffed sofas and high-backed chairs may be just what you need. Such chic-skirted furniture will reduce drafts in those rooms while providing excellent styling options. In such conditions, you can also use a dense shelf of books or hanging quilts to act as thermal barriers.
Breathe New Life Into Your Home
Redesigning your home is a fun process that will improve your home’s value and make it comfortable and appealing. Incorporate energy efficiency, and you’ll achieve that, plus reduce your energy bills. Ideally, energy efficiency will have the most significant impact with proper planning. Consult a good interior designer for the task if you are not sure where to start.