Owning a home is a great privilege, a blessing even. You are the king or queen of your own castle, your own private oasis. However, this also means you need to bear some responsibilities. One of these is, of course, being energy efficient.
Namely, a house eats up a lot of resources. You need to maintain it, clean it, keep it warm, keep it cool, and paint it when you have it, clean out the gutters, have it inspected for damage… You get the idea. Your bills are gonna be pretty high, so minimizing them as much as possible is a good idea.
Energy efficiency is a great way to lower your expenses, all the while helping out the environment as well. In the article below you can find some home improvement tips that will definitely help you out.
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Get a programmable thermostat
A very simple addition. Get a programmable thermostat installed. This lets you control the temperature levels in your home. It allows you to achieve optimal temperatures, so you don’t have to pay that extra money for needless heating or cooling. You can basically keep it turned off when no-one is home, instead of wasting money.
Change up your appliances
One of the more costly, but also one of the more impactful changes you can do. Namely, we suggest you switch out, over time, every appliance you own and get one that is energy efficient.
No matter how happy you are with your old fridge, oven, or boiler, it’s time to get with the times. You can get good technology that is sturdy, efficient, doesn’t use up to much power, all the while giving you the standard functionality you want and need.
Keep in mind that even if some of these are expensive, they will pay for themselves in very little time. In fact, even cheaper models that aren’t marketed as energy-efficient are actually better for your bills and your environment when compared to old models.
You don’t have to replace them all at once. Simply start with those that you use the most, and work on from there. So, maybe you have a real strong oven, but you don’t really cook at home. However, a fridge will be on all of the time, as will your boiler. Think about what you can afford, and how you can change things up.
Fix up your doors and windows
A huge amount of heat is lost due to poorly sealed and closed windows and doors. Air simply leaks out, or leaks in. This then leads to you losing heat during the winter and getting hotter during the summer.
Your heating and cooling units will then have to work extra hard in order to keep things comfortable and under control. You have two options – either plug everything up or get new doors and windows.
For example, getting professional soundproof doors and windows means you will not only save up on energy costs, you will also get some peace and quiet.
This new installation might be costly, but you will get some extra security, and updated doors, both at the same time. You can also inspect your house for leaks and try caulking the holes up. Check out the frames of your windows, or add some weather stripping.
Add some extra insulation
Your house needs to get as much insulation as possible. However, that usually isn’t an option if you want the entire house to be properly set up. What you really want is to get to your attic, and get some insulation there.
You’d be shocked by how much of a difference this makes, even if it was completely insulated. Adding another layer will help, especially if you have heavy, difficult winters.
Set up your lighting
Another simple and easy way to save up some money is by replacing your bulbs with their LED or CFL counterparts. Installing new light fixtures can also help, as can making the most out of natural light. Getting as much sunlight as possible is key – it will help you save on lights, and it will give you some extra warmth during the winter.
Conclusion
And there you have it folks, a couple of ways you can make your home more energy-efficient. So, get to work, and try a couple of things out. Think about replacing every single appliance in your home with something a bit more eco-friendly, it simply getting some energy-efficient light bulbs – you can make change even without breaking the bank. Also, know that these changes also have extra results.
For example, sealing up your doors and windows means fewer air and temperature leaks, as well as better noise control. Remember that every little bit helps and that these changes are not you throwing away money, but you investing in your future.
Alex is fascinated with “understanding” people. It’s actually what drives everything he does. He believes in a thoughtful exploration of how you shape your thoughts, experience of the world.