When it comes to energy efficiency in your home, what comes to mind? High energy bills? Inefficient heating? There are a lot of things that can contribute to poor energy efficiency within your home, and indeed, the worse your efficiency, the higher the bills and the more resources you will use to be able to do normal everyday things.
Despite the majority of American homes being labeled as energy vampires, a term used to describe properties that aren't energy efficient, there are multiple things you can do to take control and improve your home's energy efficiency, thereby reducing the amount of energy you consume.
It's important to remember that not all initiatives are suitable for every home, and you can get an energy audit to help you understand the main areas to focus on or to make some tips on how to make improvements.
But this post will look at some of the best ways to improve energy efficiency, keep your bills down, save money, and reduce your carbon footprint.
Clean Vents and Change Filters
Your HVAC can accumulate dirt and debris with use, and this can build up on your filters and your vents. In turn, this means that the entire system has to work harder to perform at its best, as external factors are ruining its efficiency. It's a low-cost place to start and can make a massive difference in your home.
Ideally, you need to change your filters every 2 months or so, and you need to make sure you turn the HVAC off before changing the filters to prevent any accidents or damage. While it is off, you should take a look at the vents and give them a clean to remove dust buildup or anything that might have worked its way into the vent, blocking airflow. This includes moving any toys, furniture, accessories, etc., that have been placed on top of the vents to cover them up. Blocking vents doesn't stop air from coming through; it redirects it and makes the HVAC work harder.
The more easily air can flow through the system, the more efficient it will be at heating and cooling your home.
Add Insulation
An uninsulated or poorly insulated home will simply leak energy. If you're heating your home and it still feels cold, or you constantly have to turn the thermostat up, you likely don't have adequate insulation.
There are multiple areas of your home you insulate, including attic spaces, basements, cavity walls, flooring pipes, etc., and insulating as much as you can will help you to reduce air escaping and maintain a more consistent temperature within the building.
You can choose from different types of insulation. You can opt for fiberglass, spray foam cellulose, and reflective insulation. You can also choose more sustainable materials like recycled plastic, aerogel, or cotton (cellulose and fiberglass are also considered sustainable options).
Programmable Thermostat
Everyone has seen the memes floating around about "dads" and their instructions prior to turning the heating on, but a controllable thermostat can help you change it when required so you're not wasting energy, i.e., having it on when no one is home.
For example, you can program it to turn the heating on half an hour prior to you getting home from work and then turn it off again a few hours before bed. This not only ensures a comfortable temperature when you're home but also saves energy when you're away. You can also program it to come on if the temperature drops below a certain number, for example, to maintain an even internal environment. These actions can lead to lower heating costs and reduced bills, making your life more comfortable and energy efficient.
With a programmable thermostat, you can also easily alter the temperature for certain periods, e.g., lower it when you are sleeping or increase it during colder parts of the day. This adjustment cannot only make the rooms more comfortable but also save energy.
LED Light Bulbs
If you haven't switched to LED bulbs yet, you're missing out on significant cost savings. LED bulbs not only last longer, reducing the frequency of bulb changes, but they also use less power, making them a more energy-efficient lighting option.
According to the US Department of Energy, the average household can save around $225 per year by switching to LED bulbs. This significant cost saving is a clear indicator of the potential for a more efficient and economical lighting solution.
Use Curtain Properly
Your curtains are an important aesthetic detail helping to improve curb appeal and add security to your home but did you know using your curtains strategically is a free and easy tip to get on board with in relation to saving energy? It's a simple and effective way to combat excessive energy consumption, making curtains a triple threat, if you will.
Strategically opening and closing curtains looks something like this. In warmer weather, you want to open the curtains to let cool air in before temperatures rise, i.e., early morning or late evening, and then close them during the day to block the sun from entering your home and adding extra heat. The opposite is true in the winter when it's cold, and you want to let sunlight in to help heat the space and close the curtains to block the colder air coming in overnight or in the evening.
Floor-length curtains, insulated curtains, and those made with thicker materials work best for this, but you can also use blinds in your tools to add extra protection.
Upgrade Windows and Doors
Air leaks are especially common in older homes, but they can be present in any age property and are typically apparent by windows and doors. If your windows aren't fit for purpose or are excessively leaky, upgrading them to more energy-efficient alternatives will allow you to reduce air intake and leaks from your home while adding additional noise reduction benefits and security too.
Booking a new Window Installation will enable you to benefit from the latest energy-efficiency designs for windows and doors so your home looks good, you can improve curb appeal, and you can also reduce those pesky energy bills all in one fell swoop.
Use Ceiling Fans
This tip is for those fortunate enough to have ceiling fans in their homes. Ceiling fans can be a game-changer when it comes to controlling your home's temperature and comfort level.
Run your ceiling fans in a clockwise direction to push warm downwards from the ceiling (remember heat rises) to help you warm the room or to keep it warmer after turning the heating off. This is especially useful for homes with higher ceilings as heat will travel upwards, and using the fan to push it back down can help to keep it warmer that little bit longer.
Run it anticlockwise to do the opposite, i.e., circulate cooler air in the room.
Take It Off Standby
Most people are guilty of this little habit, but it can cost you hundreds per year in energy bills. Leaving appliances or chargers on standby is a surefire way to increase energy bills, so always unplug items that aren't currently being used, and you can potentially save $200, which represents an average 8% reduction in annual energy usage.
Coming back to that "vampire" term, chargers left in when not charging devices, TVs left plugged in when not being watched, or small appliances that aren't being used can all contribute to excessive energy wastage or getting into the habit of unplugging nonessential plugs or those not in use 24/7 (don't unplug refrigerators, freezers, etc. you use constantly).
Cooler Wash
Energy Star suggests that 90% of the energy consumption from running a washing machine is from the heat you use to wash your clothes. Modern laundry detergents work well at lower temperatures. They are specifically designed for this use, meaning you can turn down the temperature and remove much of the associated cost of laundry. While this isn't going to work for hard or ground in stains or clothing that has seen a lot of dirt and grime (contractors' clothing, for example, or gardeners' or even toddlers and weaning babies), where you can use cooler washes save money and be more energy efficient.
Upgrade Old Appliances
A newer Energy Star-rated appliance will use 10 - 20% less energy than its older counterpart. This is due to the age of the appliance and modern technology, which allows appliances to be more economical to operate. You can have freezers, air purifiers, dishwashers, room air conditioners, refrigerators, clothes dryers, and more that have been certified as Energy Star rated products. For some purchases, there might even be federal tax deductions you can take advantage of to offset the cost.
Solar Panels
Adding solar panels to your home can be an expensive endeavor. However, if you are looking to reduce your reliance on energy companies, it can be an option for you to consider.
All areas within the US can accommodate solar panels, and the myth they work better in warmer climates has long been debunked. All you need is some direct sunlight each day, and you can start generating your own energy. How much energy you can use depends on the area and how much sunlight you get, but typically, you can expect the payback period to be between 8 and 12 years on average. The actual period depends on the energy you use, the energy cost in your area, and the amount of direct sunlight the panels get.