Remodeling your home is not only an opportunity to visually enhance and improve the function of your home but also an excellent way to reduce waste and lower your energy bills. Energy-efficient home improvement projects will undoubtedly help to increase the comfort of your home while helping to protect the environment. Here are a few great projects that you should consider. Some more expensive than others, but all will pay off over time.
Energy-efficiency audit
Before you can improve your home’s energy efficiency, you have to first determine exactly where your house is losing energy. A home energy audit can help you accurately determine your energy use and how problems can be dealt with.
Seal air leaks
Plugging up the leaks that allow air to slip into and out of your house and drive up your utility bills is an important first step in creating an energy-efficient home. Such leaks are often found around doors and windows, but they also can be in your basement, crawlspaces or attic.
Re-insulate your home
If you have an older home, chances are it is not properly insulated, and it is costing you money every day. Therefore, you need to make sure your home is well insulated, so you will be able to save money on your heating and cooling bills.
Invest in green technology
Due to the fact that everyone is looking for money-saving ways along with the increased need to save the environment, the number one home improvement plan available today is the installation of green technology. Going green can mean things like installing solar panels, windmills that generate power, energy efficient light bulbs, and energy efficient heating and cooling systems among others. The solar panels can be costly in the beginning but the money that you will save in the end will more than make up for the cost.
The same is true for the heating and cooling system. It will save you big dollars on your energy bills. Windmills are great because they not only help you generate your own electricity, but you can even make them out of old parts found in junkyards. Talk about a fun family project. Another great thing about going green is that it will help you qualify for tax breaks as well as helping out the environment.
Programmable thermostat
This may seem like a very simple home improvement tip for you but you also must not underestimate it. It is a great way for you to save on your electric bills. It achieves this by only turning on your heating and air only when your house reaches a certain temperature. This will keep your heating and air bills down because they are not running all the time when they really do not need to.
Kitchen
The real energy savers in kitchen remodels are the appliances you choose. Certified energy star products can cut your energy bill by 40 percent since they use less power and water. Additionally, if you replace your gas or electric stove with an induction range that uses a small amount of concentrated heat, you’ll use less energy while you cook.
Bathroom
As you replace showerheads and faucets, consider low-flow products that provide water pressure that is similar to conventional items while significantly cutting down on water usage. Consider installing high-efficiency and dual-flush toilets that use approximately 1.28 to 1.6 gallons of water per flush.
These are just a few of the simple and low-cost home upgrades that you can undertake to keep your home cost effective. You will certainly notice the difference when your electricity and utility bills come each month. And, as you count your savings, you will be glad that you spent the time and money on these simple home improvement projects.
