Monitoring your home’s energy efficiency is vital for lowering your monthly energy costs. By implementing a few simple changes, you can reduce your carbon footprint and save money. Here are some affordable tips to make your home more energy-efficient.
Make Your Home More Energy-Efficient By Scheduling Your Thermostat
A good rule of thumb for your thermostat is to set it and forget it. Install a programmable thermostat so you can schedule it to change the temperature at times you know you will be home, warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. This way, when no one is in the house, energy isn’t wasted on keeping it at a comfortable temperature.
Seal Windows and Doors to Make Your Home More Energy-Efficient
Sealing cracks and gaps around windows and doors is a great way to save money on energy costs. By preventing air from entering or escaping from your home, you’ll retain more heat in the cold winter months and keep your home cooler during the summer. Use inexpensive and easy-to-use products like caulk or weatherstripping to keep your home airtight.
Change Lightbulbs
Changing out your old bulbs for newer, more energy-efficient ones reduces energy costs and waste because they last longer. Standard incandescent lightbulbs use more energy than LED, CFL, and halogen bulbs. To save even more energy, consider reducing the bulb-wattage in rooms that have a lot of windows.
Replace HVAC Air Filters
Clean HVAC air filters are the key to keeping your unit running smoothly year after year. Regularly replacing or cleaning your HVAC filters prevents damage to the overall unit, increasing its longevity and energy-efficiency. Dirty filters prevent clean air from adequately flowing into the interior of your home, which recirculates harmful allergens. Change your air filters according to your system’s manual.
Use Window Treatments to Make Your Home More Energy-Efficient
Drapes, blinds, and curtains help to conserve energy by blocking the hot rays of the sun in the summer and allowing them in during fall and winter. The best way to use the sun’s heat when it’s cold is to open your drapes or blinds during the day and close them when the sun goes down.
Redtail Building Services serves Southeastern Virginia with home inspection services. Contact us to schedule an appointment.