If you’re looking for ways to save money, look no further! We listed fifteen energy efficient home upgrade ideas that will help your wallet.
If you’re a homeowner, you know saving money is high on the list of priorities. There are some easy ways you can put your house to work for you.
Energy efficient home ideas are worth considering knowing they pay you back in the long term with the savings. Consider a small investment into your home for better energy efficiency. Your house will be saving you money.
There will be some improvement that will cost money, so we recommend a high approval loan to save money.
Take a look at these big and small ways to make your house more energy efficient.
1. Air Leaks in Ducts
If you heat and cool your home using forced heating and cooling, this is something to consider. One estimate done by the Environmental Protection Agency suggests you lose up to a fifth of the forced air through ducts.
Go through the ductwork in your home to look for leaks. A duct sealant can be used to seal up exposed ducts to prevent that forced from escaping. This will save your heating and cooling bills because all the hot and cold air will go where it’s intended.
2. Insulate Your Attic
Depending on the age of your home, adding another layer of insulation to the attic can be a real energy saver. Newer homes may have enough insulation, while houses that are more than a decade or more old, likely would benefit from added insulation.
Hot air rises so this is the obvious place that heat escapes from your home. By adding the extra layer of insulation in your attic you can keep the heat from escaping.
3. Get Programmable Thermostat
The Alliance to Save Energy suggests that a programmable thermostat can save you 10% on heating and cooling. With those savings, a programmable thermostat pays for itself in just a few months time.
To attain the most efficient, energy efficient home a programmable thermostat also control temperatures in your home. It can automatically lower the heat at night or when you are gone during the day.
4. Seal Doors and Windows
An inexpensive fix to save money involves breaking out the caulk. Look for those leaks around your doors and windows that are letting in air from the outside. This can mean higher heating and cooling bills for you.
Another idea to make your windows more energy efficient is to add plantation shutters to them. These shutters can help keep out the heat in the summer and let in the warmth from the sun in the colder months. Check out this guide on plantation shutters to learn more how the can make your home more energy efficient.
5. Energy Efficient Doors
Take a close look at your doors for efficiency. Hollow doors allow places for outdoor air to go. If you can afford an investment, add solid doors for more energy efficiency.
Consider adding storm doors to add another layer between the inside of your home and the outside.
6. Use Ceiling Fans
For a few cents running a ceiling fan can save you money. They help to circulate air. In the summer that means keeping air moving so you may not need the air conditioning. In the winter, it means pushing the warm air back down into the room.
7. Low Flow Toilets and Shower Heads
Take a look at your faucets, shower heads, and toilets. One energy efficient home improvement that has minimal costs is to install low flow plumbing fixtures.
The reduction in water saves you money. There are lots of options on the market, even ones that allow you to adjust the water flow to meet your preference and still save you money.
8. Energy Efficient Lighting
Up to 1/3 of all electricity used in a home comes from lighting. This is an easy place to look to save some money.
One energy-efficient home improvement that is very low in cost is to switch out all of your light bulbs for CFLs or LED ones. They last much longer and are significantly more efficient which makes for easy savings.
9. Energy Efficient Heating and Cooling
There is nothing in your home that uses more energy than your heating and cooling systems. Some estimates say that up to 43% of your energy bills come from the heating and cooling you use.
Make sure you do proper maintenance on your heating and cooling units. Changing filters and making sure they are cleaned out can save money for limited cost.
If you have an old furnace, the change in efficiency might be worth the investment in a new model. Over time, the savings can add up and it will add overall value to your home.
10. Energy Efficient Appliances
About 15% of the electricity you use in your home comes from appliance use. While this is a more costly change, over time it can really add up. Make sure your washer and dryer, stove, refrigerator, dishwasher, and microwave are the energy efficient models.
If you have older model appliances, the savings might make it worth it to purchase new energy efficient models.
11. Water Heater
While not a low-cost change, making sure you have a water heater that is energy efficient can save you big money. Water heaters also use 15% or more of your yearly energy. There are models that can heat water very quickly and use less energy to do it.
12. Outdoor Solar Lighting
If you have outdoor lighting, you must be using solar-powered models. Take advantage of the free energy from the sun to power your lighting. Outdoor solar lighting can last up to ten hours on a day’s charge from the sun and its free energy.
13. Consider New Windows
While this is not an inexpensive change for more efficiency, over the long haul it not only saves you money but also adds value to your home.
This is an energy efficient home improvement that can reduce cold air from coming in and warm from getting out. If your windows are old and not sealed well, it’s worth considering the investment for more efficient windows.
14. Small Appliances
While this is a small thing, it can save you some real money. Look at how you use the small appliances in your home. Are they always plugged in?
If you use a blow dryer daily, over time an energy efficient one will definitely save you money. Consider using a pressure cooker that cooks fast and efficiently instead of your stove. Little changes in how you use the appliances can add up to savings over time.
15. Energy Saving Plugs
For those things, you want to keep plugged in all time, consider switching to an energy-saving power plug. These allow you to keep your appliances like the coffee maker plugged in. Then you can just flip the switch on the plug so it draws zero energy while not in use.
Energy Efficient Home Ideas For You
Whether you choose one or all fifteen of these energy efficient home ideas, the savings will really add up for you. In some cases, just a small change or investment can make a big difference in savings and efficiency.
Look for other ways to improve your home by visiting our blog today.
