How to Increase Your Home Energy Efficiency

Key Highlights

• Improve the energy performance of your home and save money on energy bills, decrease emissions, and increase comfort.
• Enhance your home energy efficiency by getting useful information and recommendations on insulation, windows, appliances, HVAC systems, and other parts of your house.
• Discuss the advantages of smart home devices such as smart temperature control and energy management systems.
• Find out about renewable energy options and how you can save money on these upgrades through government incentives.
• Follow the daily routines that will help to save energy and make your home more efficient and environmentally friendly.

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With the economy and inflation being what they are, cutting costs responsibly is what most people are aiming for, and your home energy efficiency is one area that can produce tangible results. To do this, you have to make the right choices and apply certain changes, such as implementing a whole-house systems approach and making improvements that can lead to potential savings in heating, cooling, and electricity costs.

Methods to Enhance Your Home Energy Efficiency

Contrary to what many people may think, improving your home energy efficiency isn’t fancy-speak for a complete overhaul. You can begin with the areas of your house that lose energy: drafts and holes in the ductwork. After that, there are inexpensive solutions such as air sealing and duct maintenance for improved interior air circulation and energy use. Beyond that, instead of using outdated incandescent bulbs, you can switch to energy-efficient LEDs. Another idea is to upgrade to a programmable thermostat to manage the temperature of your home’s climate.

It is only after these first steps that you can consider further improvements. This may mean investing in efficient home appliances, such as a water heating system. As the third largest energy expense in the average home (responsible for about 12% of the electricity bill), a more efficient water heater is only logical.

1. Optimize Your Heating and Cooling Systems

Heating and cooling are among the biggest energy-consuming functions in your home, and your HVAC system is responsible for it. To improve it, ensure that its size is appropriate for your premises and it is Energy Star rated. In this article, Tom talks about the best way to maintain your HVAC system properly for it to work well.

Consider investing in a programmable or smart thermostat. This device can be set to regulate the temperature on its own, which will help save energy if you’re sleeping or not at home.

2. Upgrade to Energy-Efficient Appliances

If you buy new appliances, make sure they are Energy Star certified. They consume little power and can help you save cash you’d otherwise use on bills. Look for refrigerators, washing machines, dishwashers, and other appliances with the Energy Star label.

These appliances are designed to use less energy without affecting their output. For example, Energy Star washing machines clean clothes very well while using less water and power.

3. Install Smart Thermostats for Better Control

Getting a smart thermostat, as we’ve mentioned at least twice now, is a big-brained move with regards to managing energy consumption. These devices have gotten to the point where, over a short time (the first few hours, that is), they record your preferences and routines then begin handling your home’s climate control without much input from you.

You can also control the temperature from anywhere you can get internet. Making sure you didn’t leave the heater on is now as simple as opening an app.

4. Seal Windows and Doors to Prevent Drafts

Loose fitting windows and doors cause a lot of heat losses. One of the easiest things that a homeowner can do to make their home more efficient is to seal the air leaks using weather stripping and caulk.

Inspect your windows and doors to see whether there are some areas that allow air to escape. One of the ways that you can prevent cold drafts is by insulating your doors and window by installing weather stripping on the door frames and window sashes.

5. LED Lighting is Much Less Power Hungry

Incandescent bulbs are inefficient in power consumption and have a short lifespan compared to the new generation bulbs. Switching to LED light bulbs is one of the easiest things you can do that will significantly affect your electricity bill.

LED bulbs consume less energy, have a longer lifespan compared to incandescent bulbs, and emit less heat. This means your cooling system will not have to work as hard during hot weather.

6. Make Sure Your Walls, Attics, and Basements are Insulated

Proper insulation is a shield that doesn’t allow heat to pass through it. In the winter, the heat from inside your house can’t leak out, and in the summer, your home doesn’t become an oven your HVAC system has to work hard to cool. See? With enough insulation (like spray foam) in the walls, the attic, and the basement, you can afford to let your climate control system rest without regret. More rest means less energy used.

7. Switch to Renewable Energy Sources like Solar Panels

Solar panels use the sun’s energy to create clean and renewable energy. If you install a few, you can power your home (or even specific appliances like your LED bulbs) with free electricity.

Now, solar panels aren’t that cheap. Like many other good things, they’re a bit of an investment. However, the government has provided incentives and tax credits to help make them cheaper. Over time, solar panels can lower your energy bill a lot or even make it go away completely. If you really invest in it, you might even be able to sell to your favorite neighbor. Who would say no to cheap electricity from solar energy?

8. Implement Water-Saving Fixtures and Practices

Saving water is not only good for the environment, but it also helps in energy conservation. Heating water uses a lot of energy in our homes. If you can endure taking a shower with less hot water, you will reduce the amount of money that you spend on energy.

Another way to conserve water is by installing low-flow showerheads and faucets. This allows you to maintain good water pressure while using a limited amount of water. We have some other pieces of advice too, such as repairing leaks as soon as possible. A small leak can waste gallons of water in a few days.

9. Adopt Smart Home Technologies for Efficiency

Modern smart home solutions provide you with simple and efficient means of monitoring and controlling the energy consumption in your home. This assists you in becoming more energy wise. Smart devices like smart plugs and energy monitors help you track the energy usage in real-time. This means you can identify and eliminate certain behaviors or equipment that are wasteful of energy.

In smart home technologies, activities are controlled. For instance, you can switch off the lights whenever it is dark or program appliances to turn off at certain time. You can also enhance the energy efficiency of your HVAC system. Here are some smart actions that can assist in minimizing wastage of energy and thus cutting down expenditures.

10. Regular Maintenance of HVAC Systems

It is very important to maintain the HVAC system regularly, and not just because this lets it keep its energy efficiency longer. With routine maintenance, you can find that the screw holding the compressor fan blade is loose and tighten it before it flies off and breaks the shell of the compressor, leaking refrigerant everywhere and costing you $3000 to fix (maybe with a medical bill for a checkup as the cherry).

Try to schedule an annual maintenance plan with a professional like Frontline Pro Services to assess your system, clear the filters, and repair any issues. This may sound expensive but paying $400 to make sure you don’t catch a $3000 failure seems worth it.

Work With Experts

If you’d like more advice or want to start making these changes, we at Frontline Pro Services can help. Simply reach out to us whenever you want, and we’ll make time for you.