Climate change is current, and so is your participation in it. So, what can you do to reduce your home’s impact in this process? You can implement several energy-saving techniques in your home no matter the climate in your city.
In the broader picture, you’ll be mitigating the impact of climate change. Now that’s an energy-efficient idea! As an added bonus, you’ll be paying less on your energy bills as well.
Today you’ll come across several strategies that can help your home to become more energy-efficient. Now whether you reside in an old house or a new one, discover ways to save energy.
Why is Home Energy Efficiency Crucial?
Energy efficiency manages and regulates our consumption of energy. Daily energy resources go to waste in homes because of negligence and lack of knowledge. However, that’s about to change. And its high time now!
Energy efficiency provides the following core benefits:
- safeguards the planet.
- reduces the reliance on fossil fuels.
- reduces the energy bills.
All of these are reasons compelling enough for your homes to go green. A single energy-efficient home plays a significant part in giving back to the environment. Now imagine if every single household on the planet could do so?
And here’s how you can also take that sustainable approach:
Conduct an Energy Audit
A home energy audit could be a preliminary step into making your home more energy-efficient. You can consult a professional or do it yourself. Check for air leaks, insulation, and examine the heating and cooling equipment.
The US Department of Energy suggests that homes must undergo an energy audit at least once every year. For more information, you could look at their DIY Home Energy Assessments.
Switch to LED Lighting
Lighting accounts for a high percentage of your electricity bills. A convenient approach to adopt energy conservation and reduce your electric bills are to switch to light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that could significantly reduce energy consumption.
LED lighting can be expensive. However, on average these last for up to 25,000 hours and the savings in electricity bills could offset their cost.
Fill Gaps Between Floorboards
For older homes, filling the gaps between floorboards is one of the best energy-saving approaches. Although floorboards add to the character of a space, a high percentage of heat could be lost from within the gaps.
For extra insulation, it’s always a smart idea to utilize a rug in the winter months.
Utilize Smart Lighting
Think of smart lighting as a long-term investment with high returns in the future, both in terms of cost and energy. This approach is a frontrunner in energy-efficient strategies and allows homeowners to streamline their lighting systems.
It’s because you can control all the lights in your home literally from your hands, through a smartphone.
Smart Heating Controls
An unbelievable amount of energy could be saved if your home has a smart thermostat. And don’t forget about the massive amount of money being saved ANNUALLY!
With smart heating technology, homeowners can regulate the temperature from a wi-fi-enabled device. As a result, the amount of energy being utilized will be under control.
Along with smart lighting, smart heating is a great approach to streamline the process and play your part in saving the environment.
Insulate the Walls
Several residential architects might suggest insulating the walls of your home to save. As a strategy to reduce energy bills, it is possible to add cavity wall insulation from the exterior of your home.
Alternatively, interior walls can be made more energy-efficient by spraying wet cellulose or foam into the cavities.
Insulate the Floors
The right floor insulation could save energy while making your rooms comfortable. However, it depends on whether the floor is solid or suspended.
A concrete solid floor can be improved by utilizing insulating foam boards or a floating wood floor. A suspended wood floor requires both thermal insulation and draught proofing.
Install an Energy-Efficient Heating Stove
The design of fireplaces is inefficient when it comes to energy-saving and unlike these, wood-burning stoves are sealed within the interior space. Going with an energy-efficient stove will result in less fossil fuel consumption and radiate the heat efficiently throughout the room.
This option works well if you’re trying to make an older home more energy-efficient.
Seal Those Windows
In your crusade for a more energy-efficient home, you could go the extra mile by sealing the air leaks in and around the windows. You could consider incorporating weatherstripping around the frame if your windows are drafty.
Shutting gaps could be the easiest and most inexpensive method to reduce energy costs in your home.
Install Solar Panels
Although installing solar panels will cost you a decent sum, they are one of the most popular ways in increasing the energy efficiency of homes. Solar panels come with a plethora of benefits.
These help you save money on energy bills and reduce the usage of fossil fuels. Solar panels are installed on the roofs and cut electricity costs by independently generating energy.
Limit Space Heater Usage
Even though gas space heaters keep you warm like toast, it isn’t the most efficient way to heat your home. Many space heaters consume around 1200 to 1500 watts of energy and significantly contribute to high electricity bills.
Before spending all this money, ensure the model of your space heater is energy-efficient. Alternatively, you could layer up or wrap yourself in a cozy blanket instead of cranking up the thermostat.
Insulate the Attic
Insulating your attic can help seal air leaks and better your home’s heating and cooling costs. The amount of insulation required to cover the attic will depend on the size of your home and the climatic conditions.
Start Composting
Composting is one of the most efficient ways to go green and protect the environment. And your backyard doesn’t need to have a ton of space to start a compost pile.
Composting involves decomposing organic waste from your home by setting it in a pit. Over time, the natural process results in what is called compost, which acts as a natural fertilizer for your gardens. Composting also reduces the amount of trash your home produces regularly.
Upgrade the Boiler
Inefficient boilers could be a major source of high electricity bills in your home. Boilers consume high energy to run and when they use more energy than they need, that’s another source of carbon sneaking into the environment.
With time, boilers have become more energy-efficient and newer models are better suited for today’s homes.
Switch your Energy Plan
One of the most convenient ways to cut down your energy bills is to switch the energy plan of your home. But be cautious when doing so and stay on top of your bills! An ideal approach would be to switch to a company that offers renewable energy and sustainable options.
The right deal will help lower energy bills and reduce the number of fossil fuels being utilized. Thus, a win-win for you and the environment.
The Final Word
Nobody said that the road to an energy-efficient home is busy, but nobody said that it can’t be possible either. As tenants of this earth, you owe it to the environment to give back clean and green.
The two-way street of energy efficiency benefits both the environment and your household. The environment stays renewable, and you save on additional costs.
Constructing your new home or renovating it in an eco-friendlier way could go a long way in adding to the years of this Earth. And isn’t that something great?
As an additional resource in this energy efficiency crusade, residential architects are the green warriors and they have their roles to essay. So why not take in all the help you can get?
Mother Earth would be happy.