8 Energy Efficient Upgrades You Can Make to Your Home
Technology continues to advance in favor of sustainability and energy efficiency, and this is especially true of the technology inside our homes. Here is a look at the things you can upgrade in your home to make it more energy efficient.
Lighting
If you’re still using incandescent light bulbs in your home, make the switch to LED or CFL bulbs to up your energy efficiency in this area. LED bulbs, while more expensive than CFL bulbs, will ultimately give you more value than CFL bulbs because they last longer.
HVAC System
Assuming your home is already well sealed and insulated (something you should do if you haven’t already), replacing parts of your home’s heating, ventilating, and air conditioning systems can also improve energy efficiency significantly.
In fact, heating and cooling accounts for as much as half of your home’s energy usage. When it comes time to replace your heating and cooling equipment, look for products that are Energy Star qualified.
Thermostat
Additionally, a programmable thermostat can work wonders on your energy bill by turning on your heating and air conditioning units only when you need them.
Program your thermostat so that your HVAC system won’t turn on when you’ll be away from home for an extended period of time. Some thermostats can actually be programmed to work with a mobile app that allows you to program and adjust settings remotely.
Water Heater
Did you know that heating water accounts for about 15 percent of a home’s energy use? Investing in a high efficiency water heater will allow you to use anywhere from 10 to 50 percent less energy to heat your water.
Look for a water heater that has been certified by Energy Star. There are several types of water heaters that can help you save energy. A storage tank water heater, for example, keeps your water hot and ready for use in insulated water tanks. Tankless, or demand, water heaters, meanwhile, heat water only on demand, reducing the amount of energy that can be wasted keeping all of that hot water on standby.
Heat pump water heaters save energy by transferring energy from the surrounding air to water in a storage tank (most effective in warm climates). And solar water heaters draw on the sun’s energy to heat your water, relying on a conventional water heater as a backup.
Windows
The windows manufactured today are more energy efficient than ever thanks to new, innovative materials and window designs. Double- and triple-paned windows, for example, provide insulation in your windows that keeps hot air out during the summer and warm air in during the winter.
Argon gas in between these panes also works to increase energy efficiency because it is denser than the atmosphere, making for stronger thermal efficiency.
And for double hung and gliding windows, an interlocking meeting rail can make a huge difference in energy efficiency by helping keep out drafts and condensation.
Doors
Yep—doors have come a long way in maximizing a home’s energy efficiency as well. Glass doors and doors with windows, for example, can feature many of the same energy efficient features that windows can.
For your front door, meanwhile, you might consider a door that features a polyurethane foam insulation core and a magnetic strip as weatherstripping. If you’re not yet ready to replace the doors in your home, you should at least replace any worn weatherstripping.
Energy-Efficient Home Design | Department of Energy
Roof
A roof is a major investment, but when you consider that it can account for up to 40% of your home’s curb appeal, it makes sense to approach roof repairs and replacements with a mind for quality.
Roofing is now more energy efficient than ever thanks to innovative roofing materials such as lighter colored asphalt, sun-reflecting metal, and clay and concrete. If you’re not sure whether your roof needs a repair or full-on replacement, check out this article about telltale signs that your roof needs a repair.
Garage door
Finally, your garage door can offer your home significant energy savings by stabilizing temperatures in your garage. Look for a garage door that features foam-core insulation (often an option with steel garage doors).
A light colored garage door will also reflect light rather than absorb it, ultimately reducing heat absorption. This article offers more great tips on keeping temperatures stable in your garage.
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Category: Saving Energy
