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Is Your Home as Energy Efficient as it Could Be?

We live in a day and age where we know energy efficiency and the technology exists to help homes reduce the amount of energy they expend. Yet for many of us, we don’t know where to begin. Does this sound familiar to you?

5 Simple Ways to Make Your Home More Energy Efficient

The driving motivation behind energy efficient home improvements and upgrades is really two-fold:

First off, it reduces the amount of energy your home consumes, which is good for the environment. And as you reduce your carbon footprint, it naturally encourages others to do so as well. This has a compounding effect in your neighborhood and local community.

Secondly, you can save some serious money. Energy.gov provides a list of about a dozen improvements you can do – some of them very inexpensive – to save somewhere between $723-$1,182 per year on average. That might not sound like a lot, but it adds up over the years!

Want to know where to start? We have a few very simple yet specific ideas that you can implement right away to see quick results:

Optimize Appliances

Old appliances might technically work fine, but they’re usually highly inefficient. So while you might not have to replace that loud washer or dryer, it’s costing you money each and every time you turn it on.

It’s important to take inventory of your appliances and figure out what sort of energy ratings they have (if they have any at all). Then look up some suitable replacement options and run the numbers based on the projected energy savings. Where’s the break-even point? If it’s only going to take you 6-24 months to recoup most of the cost of the appliance, go for it!

Enhance Heating and Cooling

Heating and cooling costs account for a large percentage of the average home’s monthly energy usage and utility bills. Anything you can do to enhance your system will lower consumption.

One smart idea is to upgrade to a smart thermostat. These high-tech options allow for total customization of your system. In addition to being able to program a smart thermostat, these devices actually learn your behaviors and can automatically modulate based on your comings and goings.

Seal Air Gaps and Leaks

Some amount of air transfer is required in a home in order for it to be healthy. However, too many gaps and leaks around windows, doors, and other openings can create massive inefficiencies in your home. Addressing these problem areas could save you a significant amount on your utilities each year.

“Caulking and weatherstripping are two simple and effective air-sealing techniques that offer quick returns on investment, often one year or less,” Energy.gov explains. “Caulk is generally used for cracks and openings between stationary house components such as around door and window frames, and weatherstripping is used to seal components that move, such as doors and operable windows.”

Replace Incandescent Bulbs

Old incandescent bulbs are highly inefficient – especially when you compare them to today’s newer options.

ConsumerReports.org reports that, by replacing a 60-watt incandescent bulb with a spiral-style 13-watt CFL bulb that produces an equivalent amount of light, you could save more than $57 over the life of the bulb. Multiply that by the number of bulbs in your home and you’re looking at major savings!

Get an Energy Audit

Uncertain of where to start? Professional energy assessments can help you get a clearer picture of where your home’s inefficiencies are and how you can improve.

Most energy audits consist of manual inspections, thermographic scans, and other tests to see precisely where energy is being wasted and how it can be addressed. You can either hire a professional to fix these problems or do them yourself. It’s an extremely cost-effective way to improve your home and add value.

Where Can You Improve?

Every home is different. But unless your home was recently constructed using all of the best LEED-certified techniques, it’s highly likely that you have multiple areas where you can improve. Whether it’s enhancing your heating and cooling system, replacing incandescent bulbs, or anything else in between, now is a great time to reevaluate your home’s energy efficiency and make a worthwhile investment in the future!

Cher