Have you checked out your electric bill for the past few months? Building and maintaining an energy-efficient home is not only great for the environment but also helps you save money, too.
From lighting to heating, day-to-day living has a big carbon footprint. Making simple energy-efficiency improvements like these below can help you and your family do your part for the environment.
1. Take Advantage of Natural Lighting
The first way to create an energy-efficient home is to avoid using electric lighting when you can. Ensure lights are switched off when you aren’t using them and only turn them on when the sun is almost setting.
Try opening curtains and shutters to take advantage of natural light. If privacy is a concern, you may opt for light-filtering curtains. These types of curtains are uniquely designed to let natural light in while still protecting your privacy.
2. Improve Home Insulation
Improving your home’s insulation helps you cut heating and cooling costs. This is because insulation helps your home maintain a balanced temperature and will save you from using your heater and air conditioner too much.
One simple thing you can do is have 3M Window Films installed. These simple films control excessive cold during winter and eliminate excessive heat during summer.
For heat control, window films eliminate hotspots and UV rays as the light passes through, helping your home effectively reduce heat.
In colder months, window films help to block the cold from the outside and keep heat in, reducing cold spots.
Window films can be an alternative to installing double-pane windows as they function in a similar way, but without the expensive retro-fit.
3. Replace Old Light Bulbs
A simple way to level up to a more energy-efficient home is to replace outdated light bulbs. Swap out your old incandescent light bulbs with energy-efficient LED and compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs. They are 70% more energy efficient than incandescent bulbs but still provide the same light.
There are plenty of bulbs on the market that feature a range of color and warmth options, and are even dimmable, such as:
4. Take Advantage of Smart Home Gadgets
Smart home tech is making it easy for many families to create an energy-efficient home. These modern gadgets either help alleviate the cost of electricity consumption or are generally a lot more energy efficient than their predecessors.
Program Your Smart Thermostat
While maintaining a consistent temperature makes us more comfortable, it can be very expensive when using the heater or air conditioner at different times of the day.
Google Nest Thermostat can help make your home energy efficient and save you money by optimizing the efficiency of your HVAC system. This device regulates the interior temperature at different times of the day based on settings you choose.
Plug Into Smart Power Strips
A smart power strips cuts off energy when appliances and devices plugged into it are idle or on standby mode. This is very important because even if appliances are not in use but are still plugged in, they can still consume energy.
The Gosund Smart Power Strip WP9 helps you reduce unneeded energy consumption by controlling the flow of power to devices that aren’t in use.
5. Swap to Low-Flow Faucets & Reduce Your Water Usage
People are beginning to realize that an effective energy-efficient home also means taking a look at water consumption.
Along with doing things like turning off the faucet when you’re brushing your teeth or washing your hands, you can also swap your old faucets in the kitchen and bathroom for low-flow faucets. Here are a few options for you to consider:
- Moen’s faucet product line has a low-flow rating to go along with its various style options.
- Kohler’s low-flow bathroom faucets offer a wide range of styles and prices.
- Niagara Conservation aerators are a great choice if you’re on a budget. They fasten onto your existing faucets and shower heads to help conserve water.
Creating Your Energy-Efficient Home Starts Now
Creating your energy-efficient home doesn’t have to be complicated. As you embark on your journey to make your home more energy efficient you’re helping not just your family, but the entire planet as well.
