Having a more energy-efficient house is the watchword of our time and the benchmark for modern homes. And, it is that it is necessary to reduce waste, save money, protect the planet, and make sure that your house does not spend or waste so much energy.
Energy efficiency means doing more with less. So, for example, energy-saving light bulbs produce the same amount of light, but use less energy and waste less heat than old-fashioned bulbs.
Similarly, if two buildings use the same amount of energy to generate heat, the building that can retain more of that heat is more energy efficient than the one that lets out more. To learn more on the subject, let’s stop at the tips that will make your home more energy efficient.
12 Tips that will make your home more energy efficient
Energy efficiency should be one of the priorities of any home because even if you live in hot places, energy consumption must be controlled. Having a more energy-efficient home involves, among other things:
- Manage and limit our levels of energy consumption
- Preserve wildlife habitats and help save the planet
- Reduce our dependence on fossil fuels that pollute the planet
This also helps pay our energy bills as little as possible. Follow these 12 tips to make your home energy green and more efficient.
1. Insulate your ceiling and walls
Just as it’s a good idea to wear a wool hat when it’s cold, it’s a good idea to insulate your roof if you get cold in your house. Putting a layer of insulation on the roof can be very economical when you analyze the savings that it entails.
Your walls also deserve to be insulated. Filling them with wall insulation could be a very cost-effective way to retain heat in your home and save on your energy bills.
Approximately one-third of the heat loss in most homes is through the walls. Whether you live in an apartment or a large house, you’ll likely recoup your installation costs in 5 years or less.
2. Protect yourself against drafts
Insulating your windows is perhaps the easiest way to make your home more energy efficient. In winter, a room full of drafts is far from comfortable. So it makes sense to invest in energy-efficient double-glazed windows.
3. Change your boiler
Boilers are becoming more and more energy efficient. If you haven’t had a new boiler in the last ten years, consider replacing it with a newer model.
4. Take care of the maintenance of your heater
Newer heaters have properties to make your home more energy efficient, however, there are possibilities to improve the efficiency of older model heaters. The most important is annual maintenance by a professional.
5. Wrap the water heater
An on-demand water heater is often the most energy-efficient option, as this type of appliance heats water only when needed. If you have an electric water heater, you can reduce heat loss by wrapping it in an insulating blanket.
6. Seal ducts, doors and windows
Hot air can escape through the air duct joints. This means that you are paying to heat rooms unnecessarily (for example, an unfinished basement) and the heat is not reaching the areas you want to heat (for example, rooms on the upper floor). Apply masking tape to all visible joints to reduce air leaks.
Test seals on doors and windows
Without a waterproof seal around doors and windows, you waste energy heating and cooling your home. Check for air leaks by holding a burning incense stick (or candle) around the frame of doors and windows.
If the smoke or flame flickers, you have a draft. Caulk around the frames, install weatherstripping or replace the existing one, and add on the bottom door. Film applied to a window will further increase energy efficiency during the winter.
7. Use a ceiling fan
A ceiling fan is very effective at cooling a bedroom with no whole house air conditioning, especially at night. It is equally useful in the cold season – most models have a blade reversal function that allows warm air to flow into the room.
8. Use large appliances off-peak.
The washing machine, dryer, and dishwasher use a lot of energy and often run for a long time.
Try to do laundry and dishes during off-peak hours, when electricity prices are lowest, usually after 7 p.m. on weekdays and anytime on weekends. Also, consider using the air-dry feature on your dishwasher and choosing a short cycle to wash your clothes.
Take care of cleaning large appliances
When the vent at the back of the refrigerator and the exhaust of the dryer are clogged with dust, the motor is put into unnecessary strain, increasing energy consumption. Vacuum them several times a year.
9. Install a clothesline
The clothes dryer can represent up to 6% of the energy consumption of a home. Hang your clothes outside during the summer and inside during the winter to air dry if possible.
10. Automate consumption
A smart thermostat can reduce your heating and cooling costs by up to 15%. It automatically adjusts based on your habits. For example, if you normally turn down the temperature before going to bed at 10 p.m., the Smart Thermostat will adjust to your preferences.
You can also adjust a smart thermostat through an app, whether you’re home or not. So if you have an unexpected time change, nothing is stopping you from adjusting your thermostat remotely to lower your heating and cooling costs at your fingertips.
Lighting automation can also help you save money. Install dimmers to reduce intensity and motion detectors to automatically turn lights off when you leave the room.
11. Eliminate standby consumption
Plug your kitchen electrical and electronic accessories into a power bar and schedule it to turn off at night.
Remember that TVs, cable boxes, VCRs, and game consoles draw power even when not in use. Simply plug them into the same power strip to easily turn them off before the whole family goes to sleep.
Beware of connected chargers
A plugged-in charger draws power even if no device is charging. When the battery of your phone, tablet, or other device is full, unplug the charger. Otherwise, it will continue to consume power unnecessarily.
12. Invest in an energy assessment
When you’ve taken all the steps you can take on your own, a professional can suggest further improvements, and then you can save even more.
