It’s no secret that rising energy costs can strain household budgets, especially if you live in a home with systems far from energy efficient. While energy efficiency can be a tricky matter to wrap your head around, it’s essential for maintaining a comfortable and cost-effective home. Fortunately, with a few energy-saving changes and upgrades, you can make your home more efficient and save money in the long run.
1. Install Energy-Efficient Windows and Doors
Replacing your home’s windows and doors with energy-efficient alternatives can go a long way in saving you money. The U.S. Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy estimates that of the $2,000 the average American spends on energy bills annually, 10-20% could be going to waste due to factors such as air leaks through openings and drafts.
New, energy-efficient windows and doors are designed with a double or triple layer of glass. They also come with Low-E glass coatings, which serve as a barrier to outside temperatures and better insulation. This helps to drastically reduce the amount of energy loss, leading to significant energy savings.
2. Improve the Insulation of Your Home
Proper insulation is essential for an energy-efficient home. Improving the attic and exterior wall insulation can drastically reduce your energy bills. A great way to improve the insulation of your exterior walls is to install insulated vinyl siding.
According to Bob Vila, today’s vinyl siding is weatherproof and fade-resistant and withstands attacks from pesky insects. Moreover, it’s also easy on the wallet and will stay sturdy for many years under normal conditions. Generally, it’s designed to stand up to everything nature throws, including weather elements. It’s virtually indestructible under normal circumstances. The extra insulation reduces the cost of heating and cooling your home.
3. Upgrade and Maintain Your HVAC System
Replacing your old HVAC system with a newer, energy-efficient model can save you a great deal of money. The cost of upgrading may seem hefty initially, but in the long run, a higher-efficiency system will pay for itself over time in lower energy bills. Unfortunately, Warner Service estimates that only 42% of homeowners take the initiative to bring in a professional for regular upkeep of their air conditioner.
Maintaining your new HVAC system properly and regular repairs are crucial. A well-maintained air conditioning system runs optimally, leading to significant energy savings. According to Energy Saver, simply replacing or cleaning the filters of your AC unit routinely can lower its energy consumption by 5-15%.
4. Replace Your Roof
One of the biggest investments you can make in your energy-efficient home is replacing a defective roof. Replacing an old roof with a new, energy-efficient roof can significantly reduce the energy lost in your home due to heat loss. Some of the most popular energy-efficient options are single-ply and metal roofing. The Hook Agency reports an uptick in demand for single-ply and metal roofing over the last 12 months and anticipates this trend will continue. Not only are they more reflective, allowing less heat to enter your home, but they also tend to last longer, meaning you won’t be spending more on repairs or replacements.
5. Upgrade Your Lighting
Replacing old lighting fixtures with LEDs or compact fluorescent bulbs can significantly lower energy consumption, meaning you will pay less on energy bills. LED bulbs and compact fluorescent bulbs consume only a fraction of the energy compared to traditional bulbs, which leads to significant savings in electricity bills. In addition, they are longer lasting than traditional bulbs, meaning they will last longer and thus provide more energy savings over time.
Making your home more energy efficient will ultimately save you money. Besides an immediate reduction in your energy bills, you’ll save money on subsequent repairs and replacements. Modern energy-efficient roofing and insulation materials are more resilient, require less upkeep, and last for decades longer than their non-energy-efficient counterparts. You don’t have to do the upgrades at once if you feel overwhelmed. A reputable home energy expert will walk with you one step at a time.
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