How to Improve Your Home Efficiency and Save Energy

Whether you’re a staunch environmentalist or just looking to save on your heating bills, improving your home’s energy efficiency can reap countless benefits. Energy efficiency helps keep the amount of greenhouse gas in the atmosphere at a minimum while maximizing your savings. 

You may think that improving energy efficiency means undertaking a complete home makeover. Good news—there are several ways to go green without breaking your back or the bank.

Keep reading to discover some tried-and-true tips to save energy throughout your home, that may involve insulation installation. 

Step 1: Learn How to Reduce Your Energy Consumption

The best way to improve home efficiency is to lower energy use in the first place. Here’s how.

Opt for Energy Efficient Appliances

Have you ever seen the ENERGY STAR logo on a kitchen appliance? ENERGY STAR is a government-backed program that aims to help consumers reduce energy usage.1

If that blue star is absent from your equipment, it could be time to look into upgrades. Walk through your house and take notice of the age and energy ratings of each of these appliances:

  • Water heater
  • Refrigerator
  • Freezer
  • Oven
  • Washer
  • Dryer
  • Air conditioner
  • Furnace
  • Dishwasher

As a rule of thumb, if any of your equipment is more than 10-15 years old, you should consider updating it. Technological advances have made even entry-level modern appliances more efficient than the laundry machines of old.

While there is an initial investment for a new fridge or stove, you’ll ultimately save in the long run. The average homeowner can see energy savings of $500 or more per year by switching to energy efficient appliances.2

Change Your Lightbulbs

How much energy could a tiny lightbulb use? As it turns out, quite a bit. Around 11% of your energy budget goes toward lighting your living space.3

An easy, affordable way to reduce energy expenditure is to replace your old light bulbs with LEDs. LED bulbs consume up to 85% less energy than incandescent bulbs.4

Take Control of Your Thermostat

Coming home to a toasty living room in the winter sounds like a dream. But running the furnace all day to achieve that cozy goal can drive up your utility bill.

The solution? A programmable thermostat.

With a programmable thermostat, you don’t need to run your heater 24/7 to keep your house warm and cozy. Smart thermostats can automatically regulate the temperature of your home. You can schedule how warm or cool you want your house throughout the day, and your heating system will turn itself on and off as needed to attain your optimal temperature. 

Simply program your thermostat to come on 45 minutes before you wake up or return home from work, and you’ll enjoy a perfect climate inside no matter the season—no wastage required.

Step 2: Assess Your Home for Energy Efficiency Opportunities

Upgrades to your air conditioning, furnace, and lighting is only half the battle. If the air you’re paying to cool or heat won’t stay inside, you’re back to square one.

To fully reap the benefits from your appliance updates, you have to tackle some larger projects. There are two areas of your home to prioritize when looking to curb energy loss.

Improve Your Insulation

Keeping your home well insulated from external factors is another surefire way to increase efficiency, along with knowing how to cool an attic. Insulating your home’s exterior walls allows you to lower energy use for heating and cooling, as your conditioned air won’t escape. 

Your attic, basement, or crawlspace could also be the reason for inefficient temperature regulation. Even if you don’t spend much of your time in these areas, they can still let that cold air in, and you should look to install insulation there to keep your energy costs down.

By insulating and sealing these oft-overlooked spots, you could reduce your total energy usage by up to 11%.5 Which is the main goal and purpose of insulation. 

Evaluate Your Windows and Doors

Did you know that 10-20% of your annual energy spending could be going out the window? We mean that literally.1 Inefficient doors and windows are some of the main culprits behind energy inefficiency, especially in older homes.

To improve your home efficiency, try:

  • Sealing air leaks – By caulking, weather-stripping, or air sealing your attic, along with drafty windows, doors, and fireplaces, you can keep outside air out and inside air in. Be sure to look for air leaks around your ducts, too.
  • Adding window coverings – Glass is the weak point in your home’s protection from external temperatures. Shades, blinds, and shutters provide an extra layer of insulation.
  • Replacing your windows – If your home is fitted with single-pane windows, you may want to switch them for more efficient glazed windows, gas-filled options, or double- or triple-paned glass.

Insulate Yourself From Rising Energy Bills with Attic Construction

With energy prices on the rise, there’s never been a better time to improve your home’s efficiency.6 Protecting the planet and your savings is a no-brainer, and one of the least intrusive, most cost-effective ways is installing insulation in your attic.

Have you been searching for “insulation installation near me” in Orange County? Perhaps in the Phoenix area? Our expert team is well-versed on the importance of insulation and providing the absolute best customer service. We also offer services like insulation installation, pest-proofing, and attic cleaning in Orange County, San Diego, or Phoenix. So whether you’re looking to keep your attic cooler or warmer, drop us a line for a free estimate. Together, we can reduce your energy usage in no time.

 

Sources: 

  1. ENERGY STAR. What is ENERGY STAR. https://www.energystar.gov/about
  2. National Resources Defense Council. Energy Efficiency: The Clean Facts. https://www.nrdc.org/stories/energy-efficiency-clean-facts#examples 
  3. Energy.gov. Why Energy Efficiency Upgrades. https://www.energy.gov/eere/why-energy-efficiency-upgrades 
  4. Energy.gov. Rise and Shine: Lighting the World with 10 Billion LED Bulbs. https://www.energy.gov/articles/rise-and-shine-lighting-world-10-billion-led-bulbs 
  5. ENERGY STAR. Methodology for Estimated Energy Savings from Cost-Effective Air Sealing and Insulating. https://www.energystar.gov/campaign/seal_insulate/methodology 
  6. U.S. Energy Information Administration. Wholesale electricity prices trended higher in 2021 due to increasing natural gas prices. https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=50798#