Do you wish to put an end to those soaring monthly electric bills? Are you searching for ways to reduce your home’s energy consumption?
Speaking of consumption, the average American home uses about 877-kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity per month. That’s about 10,649 kWh every year, which is over $1,300 for an American home.
The average electric consumption in bigger cities also rose. This is because more people are working at home. More people will be using home appliances frequently.
Hence, the question remains: how can you improve your home energy efficiency?
Continue reading below for seven easy yet effective ways on how to make your home sustainable and energy-efficient.
1. Start With Your Thermostat
One of the first things you need to have if you wish to improve your home energy efficiency is a smart thermostat. Unlike with your conventional thermostats, you can program a smart one. In turn, you can set the climate control systems and adjust according to what you truly need.
Moreover, you can lower the temperature when everyone is asleep. The same thing goes if no one is at home.
Additionally, you can set specific schedules for the thermostat to function. This helps you achieve optimal temperature while reducing your energy consumption.
2. Revisit Your Light Bulbs
When was the last time you checked your light bulbs? Which type of light bulbs do you have at home? If you’re still on incandescent lights, better ditch those for the more energy-efficient alternatives like the LED lights.
Surprisingly, LED lights consume about 75% less energy compared to their incandescent counterparts. Furthermore, they can last up to 25 times longer.
Another good option is compact fluorescent lights (CFLs). They use at least half of what your incandescent lights consume. They can also last up to 10 times longer than their incandescent counterparts.
3. Insulation Is a Must
Whether you have an attic or not, what is important is that you have insulation. By installing insulation, your home can better regulate indoor temperature. This means your home will use less energy in terms of your heating and cooling requirements.
By adding insulation, you can keep the hot air from escaping your attic. In turn, you can reduce your monthly heating expenses.
Aside from your attic, you should consider insulating your basements and crawl spaces. Also, insulate your floors and walls, including the ones in your unheated spaces like your attached garage.
Also, you need to seal key areas in your house. Start by plugging the larger holes where indoor air leakage occurs.
Use expanding foam or caulk to seal the large and small holes. As for the attic, seal the access panel with some weather stripping. Alternatively, you can go DIY on this.
Get a piece of rigid foam board insulation or fiberglass. Cut it in the same size as your attic’s hatch. Thereafter, glue the piece to the back of the access panel.
This will also work even if your attic features an attic door or pull-down stairs.
4. Use a Tankless Water Heater
Are you using a traditional water heater? Consider switching to a tankless one. A tankless water heater can help reduce your energy bills by giving you hot water only when you need it.
Unlike conventional storage water heaters, a tankless water heater will not produce standby energy losses. Furthermore, they can heat water directly even without the need for a storage tank.
A tankless heater uses some key components to deliver the hot water. When you open your water tap, the cold water will travel into the heater through a pipe. Once the water reaches the unit, an electric element or gas burner will heat it.
This process ensures consistency in the supply of hot water.
Also, consider natural gas installation for your home. It is efficient, cost-effective, and safe, making it the best type of energy option for some homeowners.
5. Try Daylighting Installations
Instead of relying on electricity for your lighting needs, consider installing daylighting solutions. Daylighting means using natural light to illuminate portions of your home’s interior.
For starters, install some skylights. But make sure you pick the double-pane type, which is more cost-effective. Also, you need to install proper flashing to avoid any leaks on your skylights.
You may also invest in some clerestory windows. These solutions are perfect during winter, as they allow the winter sunshine to enter. But make sure to set them high on your wall.
You may even get some light shelves to illuminate your living room or home office. These shelves are passive devices that bounce light into your home.
They can illuminate up to 2 and a half times the distance between the top of the window and the floor.
6. Improve Your Cooking Ways
If you love cooking, you can reduce your monthly electric bills by cooking smart. For starters, shift from conventional ovens to convection ovens. The latter use fans that help hot air circulate evenly.
In turn, you can cook your dishes using lower temperatures. Also, you can use more of your microwave ovens. These ovens use 80% less energy compared to your standard ovens.
When cooking, make sure to place the lids on your pots and pans. This will help you cook your food faster. If you have a pressure cooker, use it more often.
Pressure cookers reduce cooking time significantly.
7. Invest in Solar Panels
Last but not least, consider investing in solar panels. With solar panels, you don’t have to rely completely on your electricity provider. Instead, you can harness the sun’s energy and use it to run your home appliances.
The downside with solar panels is that the upfront costs can be expensive. However, you can recoup your investment and save thousands of dollars in the long run.
Go Beyond Achieving Home Energy Efficiency
By incorporating these home energy options, you can improve the way you consume energy. You can lower your monthly energy bills while reducing your carbon footprint. But improving your home energy efficiency is only one of the many improvements you can do with your home.
We invite you to learn more about other home improvement solutions. Check out our other articles for more helpful tips and topics on home improvement.
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