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An energy-efficient home provides countless benefits, one of which is that it’ll save you money. This is possible because it reduces your energy bills, allowing you to spend less on utilities every month. Energy efficiency also improves your home’s comfort level, increases its value, and positively impacts the environment.
Contrary to popular belief, improving your home’s energy efficiency doesn’t have to be expensive or require months of renovations. By incorporating the tips below into your lifestyle, you can make your home more energy-efficient in no time.
- Invest In Solar Panels
Are your energy bills increasing every month? Worried that there’ll come a time when you can no longer pay them? If you’ve tried countless solutions to lower your energy bills but to no avail, consider investing in solar panels as soon as possible.
Using solar panels is one of the best residential renewable energy solutions available today because they use energy from the sun to generate a consistent flow of electricity. This technology may significantly reduce your energy bills as you won’t have to rely solely on electrical companies to power your entire home.
On average, you need to pay anywhere from USD$15,000 to USD$25,000 to install solar panels in your home, but this investment will be worth it in the long run. Aside from minimizing your energy bills, using solar energy generates local jobs and allows you to earn tax credits and rebates.
- Replace Your Windows
Apart from complementing your interior design, did you know that your windows affect your home’s energy efficiency? Older windows often cause you to lose heat during the winter months and lose cool air during summer. This can cause your energy bills to increase, even if you minimize using appliances indoors.
If you suspect that your windows are the culprit for your increasing energy bills, replace them with double panel windows and other types of vinyl frames. These windows are more energy-efficient as they can keep out the cold weather and maintain warmer temperatures indoors. Adding insulation can increase their energy efficiency.
- Improve The Insulation In Your Home
A home with poor insulation can cause skyrocketing bills, especially during cold or humid weather. When your home has leaks and holes, air from your home’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system will escape outdoors, causing your equipment to work harder to maintain a comfortable temperature indoors.
One of the easiest ways to make your home more energy-efficient is to improve its insulation. You can do this by sealing leaks and other holes, adding insulation to drafty windows, and keeping up to date with your HVAC maintenance. These simple tasks can be done using DIY solutions and store-bought products, but you can also hire professionals to take on the job.
- Look For Energy-Efficient Appliances
If you’re planning to upgrade your appliances, choose ones that are more energy-efficient. Yes, these appliances will cost more than the average, but you’ll be able to save more money as they consume less energy in order to work.
To determine whether a home appliance is energy-efficient, look for the bright yellow EnergyGuide label. This shows how much energy an appliance uses, making it easier for you to compare different options.
- Unplug Unused Chargers
Even if there’s no device attached, chargers that are plugged in continue to consume energy. Unused cell phone and battery charges are actually called ‘energy vampires’ because these consume around 0.26 watts of energy.
Sure, this amount might seem harmless, but if everyone in the home is guilty of this habit, it won’t be long before your energy bills increase.
The solution to this problem is simple: encourage every member of the family to remove chargers from outlets when not in use. This simple habit will surely go a long way in reducing energy bills and making your home more energy-efficient.
- Plant Shady Landscaping
The types of plants in your lawn and backyard can also affect your home’s energy efficiency. Ideally, you should plant more trees in your outdoor space as these can block heat from entering your home, making your interiors feel cooler.
When it comes to selecting easy-to-care trees for your property, you have several options to choose from. Depending on the climate in your area and the size of your outdoor space, you can plant Japanese maple, serviceberry, crape myrtle, or magnolia. American holly and fringe trees are also ideal.
Start Small
Making your home more energy-efficient doesn’t have to be expensive, time-consuming, or stressful. There are plenty of options you can go for, and you don’t have to implement everything at once.
If this is your first attempt to make your home more energy-efficient, start small and then assess which solutions work best for you. Taking small steps toward energy efficiency will prevent you from overwhelming yourself, allowing you to have fun as you’re making changes at home.