By now, you probably know about some of the simpler ways of going green at home, from the importance of recycling paper and plastics to the safe disposal of medications. However, being truly energy efficient can sometimes come with greater costs and involve a more intense project plan than picking up a few recycling bins. Saving real money on energy bills, for instance, will come with big changes around the house.
Fortunately, however, there are manageable steps you can take to improve your home’s heating, energy saving and cooling capabilities. Here are three different ways you can decrease your energy consumption and increase the efficiency of your space at home:
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1. Buy new energy efficient appliances. If it’s been a while since you upgraded your furnace, you could be making a larger environmental impact than necessary — and driving up your heating costs. Other appliances, such as refrigerators, stoves and ovens, and air conditioners can also suck up energy and increase your electricity bill. Now is the perfect time to find Energy Star-certified appliances to save energy, bring down utility costs, and receive tax advantages, too.
2. Install new doors and windows. The older a home is the more likely it is that the doors and windows will be drafty. This leeches warm air out of the home in the winter and makes the house too hot in the summer, forcing you to use more air conditioning than necessary. By swapping your old doors for new ones, you can keep energy costs down. New windows have the advantages of being energy saving and cooling your home by filtering out the suns rays. If you can’t afford to get these doors and windows replaced, call a repair company to see if you can have new seals or other insulation added to these fixtures.
3. Swap out your old insulation for new. Finally, sometimes energy efficiency is all about the guts of the house. Be sure to have the insulation in your attic and basement checked, or add it if you don’t have it already. Doing so will help you save on energy costs and protect your home from drafts during the winter.
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