Energy efficiency is something any homeowner should strive to achieve. This is because it can help reduce your utility bills significantly. Making a few changes to reduce your heating and cooling costs can save you huge amounts of money. Making your home more energy-efficient means that you are not wasting resources and you are doing something beneficial to the environment. This can include simple practices like not leaving your electronics on or turning off the water when you finished using it. However, there are many ways which you can use to make your home more energy-efficient and at the same time reduce your carbon footprint impact.
1. Use cool roofs
The roof is subjected to high temperature especially on the outside in hot climate, however using energy efficient roof color that reflects light can lead to cooling on the inside of your home. This in turn would reduce the need to use a cooling system as the house would not be hot. Once the sun rays are reflected then the interior of your house would not be as hot as it would with non-reflective roofing. Roofing using materials that are reflective such as tiles or shingles can significantly reduce air conditioning costs which can be quite high especially in a warm climate.
2. Programmable thermostat
Invest in a thermostat that you can program especially when you are not at home. This means that the thermostat will automatically lower the temperature to at least 5 degrees when you are not home. This saves you bills especially if there is no one in the house during the day.
3. Lighting and Electronics
You need to change your lighting by investing in light efficient bulbs. There are bulbs in the market which consume less than 12 watts which is highly efficient in terms of energy consumption. It is also advisable to use natural lights as much as possible especially during the day this can save you at least 15 percent of your monthly bills. In purchasing your electronics consider purchasing energy star products like air conditioners, microwaves, and refrigerators. The reason for this is that they meet the standards set by EPA for being energy efficient. Energy Star products are made to consume less energy ultimately reducing the impact on the environment.
4. Install solar panels
Installation of solar panels may not come cheap but will make your home energy efficient in the long run. This is because solar panels are installed for heating water and even lighting. Solar panels installed on the roofs are capable of generating energy enough to heat and light your house. The good thing about solar panels is that they do not require a lot of maintenance and can last for years without having to replace them.
5. Do an Energy Audit
If you can seem to pinpoint areas in your home which are consuming a lot of energy leading to high bills then it’s recommended that you consider doing an energy audit. There are trained and certified energy auditors who can inspect your house and point out areas in which you need improvement to ensure an energy-efficient house. This may be costly however you will see its benefit in the long run as you will be able to save hundreds or maybe thousands of dollars annually.
6. Choose the right floor
The kind of floor you use can play a crucial role in the amount of energy you save or spend. Choose the kind of flooring which does not get very cold in cold weather. Wooden floors are highly advisable as they don’t get very cold during the cold weather. It’s also recommended that you invest in a quality carpet. The reason for this is that carpets can retain warmth during the day and would still feel warm during the cold nights.
7. Insulate your house
A poorly insulated house can lead to massive energy wastage. That is why one should insulate the roofs and the walls. These are the key areas where energy can escape, that is why one should check for cracks, leaks, and gaps and seal them completely. Adequate insulation of the loft can lead to huge savings in terms of utility bills of over 10% annually. In terms of windows consider looking for energy-efficient windows that are double-paned and have a tint film for more energy-efficient.
Using the above methods, you can be assured that you would notice a significant decrease in the amount of money that you pay for your utility bills every month.
