Save money by improving home energy efficiency

6 Upgrades That Can Improve Your Home’s Energy Efficiency

If you’re like many homeowners, you’ve become more aware of the impact that you have on the environment. If this is the case, then you’ll want to do what you can in order to limit your environmental footprint – especially where the home is concerned. It’s why making sure that your home is energy efficient is so important, not to mention that the more efficient your home is, the lower your energy bills will be. The following are six simple upgrades that you can make in order to increase your home’s energy efficiency without having to break the bank for a huge remodeling project:

1. Seal air leaks

Air leaks are a huge drag on your home’s energy efficiency. The warm or cool air your HVAC system produces is lost through air leaks around your doors and windows, while outdoor air seeps in. This results in your home never quite reaching your desired temperature as well as your HVAC system working harder and longer than it should to replace lost air.

2. Replace your old incandescent light bulbs

Incandescent light bulbs use a lot of energy and require replacement on a regular basis anyway, so you might as well replace them with compact fluorescent light bulbs. Not only do CFLs last ten times as long as typical incandescent light bulbs, they use up much less energy.

3. Replace your air filters every month

A dirty filter will block the airflow in your duct system, which makes the HVAC system work much less efficiently. By replacing your air filters every month, you’ll ensure the airflow isn’t restricted, reducing the amount of energy your HVAC system has to use.

4. Use a programmable thermostat

There’s no reason to cool or heat your home when there’s nobody at home. Nor is there a reason to blast the heat when everyone is in bed. You can program your Ecobee Smart thermostat to automatically change to a more energy-efficient temperature at certain times of the day, saving as much as 10% on your heating and cooling costs.

5. Upgrade old appliances

If you have any appliances reaching the end of their lifespan,they probably aren’t working as efficiently as they used to. Upgrade to new appliances approved by Energy Star. Energy Star rated appliances can reduce your energy use by as much as 10% to 30% compared to appliances not approved by Energy Star.

6. Turn down your water heater temperature

Your water heater uses a lot of energy to heat up your water, whether it’s for your family’s showers or for the washing machine. Check the temperature of your water heater – you can turn it down to 120 degrees Fahrenheit and still effectively heat your water. Anything above 120 degrees is unnecessary. You may also want to insulate your water heater pipes to prevent the loss of heat as the water is transferred.

OR! You could upgrade to a tankless water heater and save even more.

These are six things that you can do to improve your home’s energy efficiency. For additional information and advice on how you can improve the energy efficiency of your home’s HVAC system, be sure to contact us at ClimateCare today.