Are you looking for ways to increase the energy efficiency of your home? If so, you are not alone. An increasingly large number of people are actively searching for ways to reduce their carbon footprint to minimize their impact on the environment. If you are concerned about the planet and the effects of climate change, then increasing your home’s energy-efficient is a great way to play your part in protecting the earth.
The great thing about improving your home’s energy efficiency is that it also helps to reduce your bills, so it is a win-win situation. Everyone dreads receiving a high energy bill, so making a conscious effort to be more energy-efficient will help to make extortionate energy bills a thing of the past. If you are ready to start the process of transforming your house into an energy-efficient home but are unsure how to get started, here are some of the changes that you can introduce that will make a noticeable difference to your energy consumption:
Consider Solar Power
Solar panels are an increasingly common sight on the roofs of residential homes. The number of residential properties with solar panels installed has grown sharply over the past few years. This means that more households are enjoying the benefits of solar panels than ever before. There are many reasons why having solar panels installed on your home is a great idea. Firstly, you will save money on your energy bills by selling back the power that your home generates. Secondly, you will add value to your home, as your solar panels are an attractive feature for many prospective buyers. Lastly, your solar panels will help you to significantly reduce your carbon footprint and help others to benefit from the renewable energy that your home generates.
Change Your Windows and Doors
Did you know that your home’s windows and doors can play a significant role in its energy efficiency? Many windows and doors allow heat to escape from your home and allow drafts to enter, which is not good news when trying to conserve energy. On a cold winter’s day, the last thing you want is for heat from your furnace to be traveling out of your home rather than staying inside. Unfortunately, just because windows and doors are new does not mean that they are guaranteed to be energy efficient.
To enjoy the benefits of energy efficiency, you need to choose windows and doors that have been specially designed to reduce drafts, keep the heat in your home in the winter, and keep it out during the summer months. Investing in high-quality windows and doors does not need to be unaffordable; you simply need to choose the right window manufacturer and installer. You can find out more about selecting energy-efficient windows here. Once your new windows are in place, you will be able to enjoy all the benefits of a comfortable temperature in your home and reduced energy bills each month.
Improve Insulation
Effective insulation is an often overlooked aspect of improving energy efficiency. If your roof is not well-insulated, much of your home’s heat could be traveling directly out of the top. No one wants to pay high energy costs to heat their home only to see that heat escaping out of their roof. To keep the heat inside your property in winter, your home needs effective roof insulation. Having your roof insulation checked to see how well it is performing and whether it could be improved will ensure that you minimize the amount of energy that your home wastes.
While you are working on your insulation, you may also want to take a look at your roof. Your roof, in conjunction with your insulation, can have a huge impact on the energy efficiency of your home. Contact a company like Able Roofing to get an evaluation and quote to give you an idea of where to start.
Keep Unwanted Guests At Bay
If you love the eco-friendly lifestyle, you will probably encourage certain critters and wildlife into the garden. However, you do not want them to enter the home. You already appreciate that they can spread diseases but the negative impacts on the home are often overlooked. The harsh reality is that rodents and other critters can bite holes in materials, causing faults and allowing heat to escape.
A speedy solution is essential. As such, finding animal control services near you should be a priority. Aside from removing the pests that are currently in the home, you can prevent further infestations. In turn, this can protect your family and the home itself.
Switch Lights
Keeping your home illuminated may be essential, but the costs can soon add up. Your home’s lighting zaps a significant amount of power, so finding ways to reduce this is vital. If you are tired of reminding the kids to turn off lights when they leave a room, then you may benefit from finding an alternative solution.
One of the most effective ways to reduce your lights’ power consumption is to switch to energy-saving lighting. Energy-saving lighting may cost slightly more to buy when you replace your bulbs, but they will last you for far longer and will save a vast amount of energy too. Energy-efficient light bulbs can be purchased in a wide array of styles, so you are sure to find the correct energy-saving replacement for your existing bulbs. On the light bulb pack, it should state how much energy it will save you compared with a regular bulb; the results of this comparison can be pretty shocking, and you may be keen to replace every bulb in your home with an energy-saving alternative.
Choose Low Energy Appliances
Another useful way to reduce your energy costs and consumption is to shop carefully when you need to replace your appliances. Household appliances can be a massive drain on power. It can increase the amount of electricity that your home uses in a short space of time. There are a few appliances that use significantly more energy than others. Washers, dryers, electric ovens, and water heaters all require a lot of power to run. Unfortunately, these appliances are likely to be the ones that you use most in your home.
It is an excellent idea to reduce the amount of time you spend using these appliances if you can. For example, you could wait until you have a full load of laundry before putting the washer on. Another way to reduce your appliances’ energy demands is to look out for the most energy-efficient models. Comparing energy ratings in the same way that you would other features will help you choose an appliance with all the functionality you need with the bonus of being better for the environment.
Making alterations to your home to improve its energy efficiency is a valuable investment. When you take steps to make your home more energy-efficient, you are helping yourself save money while playing an active role in protecting the future of the planet.