Your Top Source for Energy-Efficient Home Tips
Living in an energy-efficient home is all about cultivating your ideal sense of comfort, saving on utility bills and reducing your carbon footprint. A few strategic changes around the house are all it takes to hit your energy efficiency goals. Think about the most common areas of energy waste in the average North American home and what you can do to fix them.
1. Lacking Enough Insulation
When the attic, walls and flooring aren’t properly insulated, you’re most likely wasting energy, not to mention money. Proper insulation keeps heat in during the winter and keeps hot summer air outside, so your HVAC system doesn’t have to work as hard.
- The fix: Boost insulation levels to your attic, a prime spot for adding more. There are many types of insulation to work with, like classic fiberglass, blown-in cellulose and spray foam. Hiring a local professional is often worth it for the expert advice and quality work.
2. Old Appliances
Worn-down refrigerators, dishwashers and washing machines are less efficient than energy-efficient alternatives. Lack of maintenance over the years will sometimes make things even worse.
- The fix: Be mindful of energy usage with appliances. This means waiting until the dishwasher is full to run it, washing clothes in cold water and loading the dryer properly. In fact, you should air-dry clothes whenever possible. As for the fridge and freezer, clean the coils regularly to remove debris like dust and hair. And when it’s time to get new appliances, look for ENERGY STAR® appliances. They’re designed to save on power without losing out on total performance.
3. Dated Lighting
Older incandescent bulbs are notorious energy wasters. In fact, they lose a lot of their energy to heat, which isn’t just more expensive—it also makes your air conditioner work harder in the summer.
- The fix: Stick to using LED bulbs, which need much less power and have a much longer lifespan. In addition, remember to switch off lighting when you leave a room. And for good measure, unplug any electronic devices when you’re not using them. For greater savings, consider installing smart bulbs and plugs to manage devices wherever you need to.
4. Install Systems Compatible with Solar Energy
If you’re ready to take your energy efficiency to the next level, it’s worth considering switching to solar power. Panels alone can light your home during the day while an attached battery backup stores excess energy for use at night and on stormy days. While solar-powered systems require an initial investment, tax credits and utility rebates are available to help reduce some of the expense.
5. Water Heaters
Your worn-down water heater is a huge energy hog, especially when it’s kept at excessive temperatures or is actually too large for your typical use. Water heaters also experience heat loss through uninsulated pipes, adding unnecessary costs to your utility bill.
- The fix: Consider investing in a tankless water heater, which heats as needed. If that’s not an option, add insulation to your tank and pipes, adjust the thermostat to 120 degrees and try not to neglect water heater maintenance.
6. Leaks in Your Doors and Windows
Leaks in your windows and doors allow warm air to leak out in the winter and bring in hot air during summer. In either of these situations, your HVAC system is put under strain.
- The fix: If you can’t replace all the windows now, apply caulk and weather stripping around doors and windows to try and minimize these air leaks. Once you’re thinking about a window upgrade, go for multi-pane, low-emissivity (low-E)-coated windows. These windows reduce unwanted heat transfer by forming a buffer zone between the inside and outside of your home.
7. Upgrading Your HVAC System
Heating and cooling account for over half of the energy consumption in most homes. If your HVAC system is old, it may have to stay on longer and work harder to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature. Systems larger than you need are also a potential problem, as they are prone to short cycling, resulting in uneven temperatures, poor control over humidity levels and added strain on the system. Then, ductwork leaks waste more energy, forcing your system to make up the losses to achieve your set temperature.
- The fix: Install a properly sized energy-efficient HVAC system and have your ducts tested for efficiency. Then, set up preventive maintenance to keep the system performing at its best for years to come. Consider adding a programmable thermostat. Adding one allows you to set temperatures more precisely based on your schedule, so you don’t use any excess energy to maintain temperatures when you’re not even home.
