4 Tips on Making Your Home More Energy Efficient

There are many benefits you can get when you improve your home’s energy-efficiency. To do this, there are various factors to consider so that you can get the maximum effects from making the effort. When you know the specific steps you need to take to improve energy efficiency, the job may become easier to do. The four tips below should give you a good idea of what you can do to improve the energy-efficiency of your home.

1. Install a Ceiling Fan

It’s crucial to take steps to ensure the interior of your home stays comfortable in all seasons. Note that a house which has no air conditioning can reach uncomfortably hot temperatures of between 80 and 90 degrees indoors, according to the Washington Post. While this is the case, you should remember air conditioning is not the only way for you to keep your home’s interiors comfortable.

One of the options you have is using a ceiling fan to help air move around. These are a more affordable solution to keeping the indoors cool when it’s hot. The best thing about them is they can be turned on one at a time, and only in the specific spaces where they’re needed. Ceiling fans also consume less energy to use, so using them when you don’t require the additional strength of an air conditioner is a great step to take.

2. Sealing Your Home Is Beneficial

Next, it’s important for you to know that most houses in America need improvement and remodeling because about 80% of them are 20 years old at least. One of the basic remodeling projects you should do your best to ensure is in good shape is to check whether there are any gaps in the sealing. These can be remedied fast with some caulk, which is readily available at any hardware store in your area. While inspecting the house, remember to check the insulation as well. It should be in a state which meets your local codes on the same or even exceeds it.

3. Investing in Energy-Efficient Appliances Is Worth Your While

The appliances you use in your home present you with an opportunity to make some savings as well. You can do this by upgrading any old appliances you have to modern versions which are energy-efficient. This can see you save a significant amount of money over time, especially if you do it for a majority of your home’s appliances. This is based on the fact that heating and cooling equipment which is ENERGY STAR certified can yield annual savings on energy bills of between 10% and 30% when installed correctly. That said, it’s important that once you find the right appliances, you should also look for the right technician to help you get a proper job done.

4. Modifying Interior Lighting Can Help You Save

Finally, think about the way you use your home’s lighting and find a way to modify it so you can save money. For example, by changing the outdoor porch lights, bathroom lamps, and living room lights to LEDs or models which are qualified by ENERGY STAR, you stand to make considerable savings in energy. Next, downgrade the wattage in bulbs you use in closets or guest bedrooms. Whenever possible, make use of natural lighting with proper adjustment of the window treatments you have.

These four tips can help you improve your home’s energy-efficiency and leave a smaller carbon footprint in the process. You can start with one measure and move on to the others, increasing your home’s energy-efficiency in the process. Additionally, forming habits like turning off lights whenever you leave a room unoccupied and unplugging electrical appliances that are not in use will help you live an even more sustainable life.