Essential Tips to Make an Efficient Home and Save on Your Energy Bill

As a homeowner, it’s important to keep your home running efficiently, not only to save money, but also to help the environment thrive.  It is important to pause and taking time to think about making some key upgrades that will improve the efficiency of your home. If you’re looking to sell your house, and increase the pool of potential buyers in your market, the energy upgrades below are something that you should consider.

 “In the U.S., energy costs eat between 5 and 22 percent of families’ total after-tax income.”

What should you spend on utilities?  (Source:  Wallet Hub)

 “If you’re working with a budget, and trust me, you should be, your utility costs should be no more than 8-10 percent of your monthly income.” (Source:  Money Management)

How can you make your home more efficient?

Below are some handy tips that can help you improve the energy efficiency of your home, and how to make them happen:

1. Make the Switch to LED

LEDs are a great example of how innovation and technology can make your life easier. They last at least 25 times longer and consume up to 90 percent less electricity than incandescent bulbs.

Tip: By switching five of your home’s most frequently used bulbs with ENERGY STAR® certified LEDs, it’s possible to save $75 on energy costs annually.

2. Seal Those Leaks

On average, heating and cooling account for almost half of a home’s energy consumption. In fact, all the little leaks can be equivalent to leaving open a 3-foot-by-3-foot window.

Tip: Take simple steps like caulking windows, sealing leaks around chimneys and recessed lighting, and sliding draft guards under your doors to save up to 20% on heating costs.

3. Heat and Cool Efficiently

Don’t waste money heating or cooling an empty home. Install a programmable thermostat and in colder weather schedule your home’s heat to lower when you are away or asleep and increase when you are returning home or waking-up. In warm weather, schedule the thermostat to raise the temperature when you are away or asleep, and lower it at other times.

Tip: Follow the U.S. Department of Energy recommended temperatures and be energy-efficient all year.

4. Maintain Your HVAC System

Make sure to clean or change your furnace filters regularly. A dirty furnace filter will slow down air flow, making the system work harder to keep you warm (or cool) and costing you more money.

Tip: Consider getting a winter tune-up. Just as a tune-up for your car can improve your gas mileage, a semi-annual or yearly tune-up of your heating and cooling system can be vital to improve efficiency, saving you money and making your home more comfortable.

A few more tips you may want to consider when trying to conserve energy.

• Not all clothes need to be washed in warm water, if possible, wash your clothes in cold water.
• Use your microwave instead of your stove when cooking.
• Set your refrigerator temperature to the manufacturer’s recommendation to avoid excessive cooling and wasting energy.
• Turn off heated dry on your dishwasher and air dry instead.
• Turn off the lights when they’re not in use. Lighting accounts for about 12% of a typical residential utility bill.

Bottom Line

By making a few key upgrades to your home, you’ll save on your utility bills and improve the energy efficiency of your home. When you’re ready to sell your house, these key features will make it even more attractive to potential buyers. Contact me when you are ready to get together to discuss what buyers are looking for when it comes to energy efficiency options in our area. Contact me at (928) 710-9148.