You’ve most likely heard about energy efficiency, but what exactly does that mean? Energy efficiency is as simple as cutting down on unnecessary energy consumption, while accomplishing the same task. Specific to homeowners, there are a number of ways to achieve this task such as installing solar panels and updating your home’s insulation. Below are some of the easiest ways to transform your home into an energy efficient household.
Low Cost Ideas for an Energy Efficient Home
Insulation
Everyone agrees that monthly bills for heating and air conditioning can really add up! However, the better your home’s insulation, the less likely the outside temperatures will affect your utility bill. With sufficient insulation, you’ll save anywhere from 10% to 50% on heating and cooling bills. When there are less drafty places in your home, you will most certainly notice the pennies you’re saving on trying to keep the temperature consistent.
Replace/Restore Windows
Windows are similar to the insulation which we mentioned above. When windows are not sufficient in doing their job, the outside air can sneak in through the openings in the window sills. This can cause costly utility bills and make it difficult to achieve the ideal temperature inside your own home. There are two options; improve the efficiency of your existing windows, or replace them completely.
A less costly solution is to improve your existing windows. One way to do this is to buy curtains or blinds. This small purchase will aid in keeping the cold or heat from coming into your home as much. The other option is to replace the windows. This is more expensive, but if your windows are old enough, this will be less of a hassle in the long run.
Solar Panels
Solar panels use energy from the sun to generate electricity. This is obviously better for the environment because there are no harmful gases being released into the air. This is also an advantage for you because your energy bill will be less every month and your house will go up in value due to this addition. Solar panels are by no means a small investment, but they will pay for themselves in a short amount of time.
Since we Coloradans enjoy 300 days of sunshine per year, the Denver area is an ideal location to take advantage of solar panels.
Programmable Thermostat
As we enter the winter months, our homes can get pretty chilly. It is nice to be able to set the heat to the necessary temperature while at home, but also while away. If you are going to be at work for eight hours, it makes sense to have the ability to reduce the temperature on the thermostat when you leave, and turn it back up when you get home. Similarly, in the summer, you can increase the temperature when you leave for work so that the air conditioning is not running when no one is in the house.
Fluorescent Light Bulbs
There have been an increasing number of people switching to fluorescent light bulbs, and with good reason. It’s no question that these light bulbs are a bit more expensive than incandescent bulbs, but they do use less energy while still maintaining a longer lifespan. Switching light bulbs is a great, cost effective option for those of us that are not quite ready to invest in solar panels or new windows.
When hearing the term “energy efficiency” we tend to think of expensive solutions. Although there are a handful of costly upgrades you can choose for your home that will pay off in the long run, there are also multiple inexpensive options that can make a huge difference in utility bills.