Improving Energy Efficiency in Time for the Colder Months
There is no need to spend a fortune to make your home energy-efficient. With a few small tweaks, you can easily save a lot of energy and money. Keep on reading to find out how.
Properly Maintain Your Furnace
The best way to make your home energy-efficient is to replace your old furnace with an updated version. But it’s also possible to make an older model more efficient. The first important step is to have it serviced by a professional every year. Secondly, replace the filters at least every 3 months. This will allow the air to move more freely through the unit, which also prolongs its life.
Check Doors and Windows for Drafts
Poor sealing around doors and windows causes energy loss, as heat and air conditioning will escape through the openings. To find where the leaks are, carefully move a lit candle around the door and window frames. If the flame starts flickering, there is a draft. Install fresh weatherstripping, fit a door sweep, and apply caulk around frames. During the winter months, it’s recommended to apply exterior window film to make your home energy-efficient.
Replace the Lightbulbs to Make Your Home Energy-Efficient
This is probably one of the easiest and least expensive things you can do to improve the energy efficiency of your home. Newer LED bulbs use significantly less energy than traditional incandescents. Another pro is that they last significantly longer and don’t have to be replaced as often.
Attend to Your Water Heater
Water heaters use more energy than generally everything else in your home. It will be a big investment, but replacing your current water heater with an on-demand, or “tankless” version is a more energy-efficient solution. If this upgrade isn’t in your budget, wrap an insulating blanket around your tank water heater to keep heat loss to a minimum.
Start Using Ceiling Fans to Make Your Home Energy-Efficient
Ceiling fans are an excellent way to cool a room, particularly at night. Most of them also come with a ‘reverse’ option that will push hot air down. This is perfect for those times of the year when it’s not very cold yet and you just need a little help to keep the room warm.
Switch to Low-Flow Showerheads
Another affordable option to make your home energy-efficient is to install low-flow showerheads. These will help you to save both water and electricity. Depending on how many gallons per minute the new showerhead delivers, you could save up to 60% more water every month. This translates to a lot of savings on your utility expenses.
Lower the Thermostat to Make Your Home Energy-Efficient
A really easy way to make your home energy-efficient is to get into the habit of turning down the temperature on the thermostat when you go to work and at night. Lowering it 7-10 degrees can reduce energy consumption by 10%. Install a programmable thermostat so you can set a schedule for when the thermostat should be raised or lowered.
Northern Florida Home Inspections provides home inspections to all of North Florida. Contact us to schedule an inspection.