Home improvements increase your home enjoyment and they affect both the cost of running your home and the value of your home when it comes time to sell. Choosing to make your home energy-efficient is not only a smart choice for minimizing the impact that you will personally have on generations to come but it is also a great way to making your home more enjoyable by making it more efficient and lowering bills now, as well as increasing the attractiveness of your property in the future should you decide to sell.
If you’re currently debating about investing in some maintenance and improvement to your home check out these tips for energy efficient improvements.
- Audit – Hire a home energy auditor to find upgrades that save average homeowners on annual energy costs. Take advantage of government grants and rebates to help mitigate the costs
- Seal – Caulk and weather strip air leaks around windows, doors, vents, electrical and plumbing. Identify and seal leaks in attics, basements and crawlspaces, and properly seal ductwork.
- Insulate – Install or upgrade insulation for the best performance. To optimize heat resistance, understand insulation R-values and the minimum values recommended for floors, walls and attics according to your climate
- Change – Swap leaky doors and windows with high performance options that include low-e coatings and inert gas fills. They offer significant improvements in solar control, thermal comfort and energy savings, reducing heating costs.
- Replace – Increase the efficiency of your furnace and air conditioner up to 50% by replacing filters regularly. Consider replacing older heating and cooling systems with higher efficiency units that reduce energy use.
- Control – Reduce heating and cooling bills by installing a programmable thermostat. Follow energy-efficient temperature set points and reduce heating or cooling when you are sleeping or away
- Water – Fix leaky faucets and choose low-flow fixtures and faucet aerators to save on water and energy consumption. Insulate water pipes and heaters and practice conservation with water-related appliances
- Light – Use 10 times longer lasting compact florescent bulbs which use approximately 75% less energy than standard bulbs. Dimmer switches also help reduce energy consumption and promote longer bulb life.
- Landscape – Plant trees! Plant deciduous trees in front of southern facing windows and coniferous trees in front of windows facing north.
- Shop – Look for the Energy Star symbol when purchasing appliances, home systems and electronics to help save on energy costs and reduce emissions
Remember greening your home is a win-win-win situation, it will help reduce your energy bills and promote a healthier planet, while improving the resale value of your home.