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Home energy saving becomes an obligation these last years because of the growing costs of energy and for environmental concerns. In this article, we discover some efficient and easy to apply home energy saving tips that can save you good money and reduce many bad effects on the environment.
Table of Contents
Weathering your home
If your home isn’t properly insulated, heat may escape through your ceilings, floors, and walls. You can save up to 20% on your bills and make your home feel more comfortable by improving insulation. To insulate side walls, installers first remove small areas of siding. Next, they bore small holes and blow in cellulose insulation. Finally, the holes are refilled and siding is replaced.
Air sealing is an inexpensive way to stop air from entering and leaving your home through small openings. You’ll save money, keep your home at the right temperature and make your home’s air quality healthier.
Windows
You can save home energy by closing your shades or curtains at night to protect against cold drafts and opening them during the day to let in warming sunlight. Replacing single pane windows with Energy Star certified double pane or triple paned windows can save home energy and make your home more comfortable. Because the cost of new windows is high compared to the energy savings, we recommend making other upgrades first like insulating, air sealing and replacing heating and cooling systems.
Saving on Heating
Heating accounts for the largest percentage of your energy budget. Installing a high-efficiency furnace or boiler can save you up to 30% on heating costs. Condensing boilers and furnaces can even reclaim the heat from steam and exhaust that’s normally lost up the chimney. Need a heating solution for a small space or specific room? Try a mini-split heat pump which can provide both heating and cooling.
Saving on Cooling
If your central air conditioning unit is more than 12 years old, replacing it with an energy star certified model could cut your cooling costs by up to 30%. Need a cooling solution for a small space or specific room that helps you in your home energy saving? Try a mini-split heat pump which can provide both heating and cooling and actually produces more energy than it uses.
Thermostats
Did you know you can save up to 15% on your heating or cooling bill by adjusting your thermostat by 10 to 15 degrees for 8 hours a day? A programmable thermostat makes this easy, whether you’re on vacation, or on the go. A wireless-enabled thermostat lets you control your home’s temperature remotely from your smartphone, tablet or laptop.
Water Heaters
Water heating accounts for approximately 18% of your home energy budget. Working around the clock to heat water for clothes dishes and showers save by upgrading to an Energy Star certified water heater which may use just half the energy of traditional models. Did you know many water heaters are set higher than they need to be? Turn your water heater down to the lowest comfortable setting and save.
Easy Water Saving Devices
Energy efficient showerheads can regulate flow and serve water and cut water heating costs. Switching just one showerhead can save you eight gallons of water during a 10-minute shower. That adds up to a savings of up to one hundred and forty-five dollars in home energy costs each year. Faucet aerators are inexpensive to replace and can be one of the most cost-effective water conservation measures. These control the flow of water in your kitchen and bathroom faucets.
Lighting
Did you know that lighting costs up to 25% of the average home’s energy budget? Energy Star certified LED light bulbs to use up to 90 percent less energy than traditional incandescent and last up to 25 times longer. They also come in a wide range of colors and light levels. Replace your homes five most frequently used light fixtures or bulbs with Energy Star certified models and you could save up to $75 each year in your home energy costs.
Home Appliances
Major appliances account for about 13% of a home’s energy use. When shopping for new appliances, look for the Energy Star label which marks energy-efficient models. There’s big potential for savings in your washer and dryer. Energy Star certified dryers use 20% less energy than standard models. You can save up to $300 over its lifetime thanks to innovative technologies like moisture sensors which detect when clothes are dry and automatically shut the dryer off or try hanging clothes out to dry. Did you know most of the energy used to do a load of laundry is to heat water? Try washing your clothes in cold water instead with a specially formulated cold water detergent. You’ll help your clothes last longer and you could save up to 40 dollars annually in your home energy costs.
Energy Star refrigerators are another smart upgrade. These models are 10 percent more efficient and could save you up to $300 on home energy costs over their lifetime.
Advanced Power Strips
Did you know some devices consume electricity even when they’re switched off? This can account for as much as 10% of your electric use. An advanced power strip can save you up to fifteen dollars a year by shutting down these products when they’re not in use, like DVD players, speakers, video game consoles, printers, and scanners. Simply plug your master device like your TV or computer into the strip’s master outlet. The power strip senses when this device is on or off and switches companion devices on or off automatically.
