So, you want to know how to make a home more energy efficient. Well, you’re in the right place. We’ve compiled nine energy efficiency tips to make your home more comfortable and affordable at the same time. Keep reading to learn how to make your home more energy efficient, so you can save money and conserve energy in every season.
9 Energy Efficiency Tips to Save Money and Conserve Energy
1. Replace Your Windows
Upgrading your home with energy efficient windows is an effective way to save money on monthly energy bills and reduce the amount of energy needed to heat and cool your home. Vertical slider windows are among the most energy efficient. These windows have a traditional look and feature modern design elements to increase safety and efficiency.
2. Install Cellular Window Shades
Installing cellular window shades is an easy and affordable way to create an energy efficient home. With cellular shades, you reduce the amount of heat that enters and escapes your home, keeping you comfortable and reducing your heating and cooling costs.
While normal window shades will increase energy efficiency to an extent, cellular shades perform better. The honeycomb design of these shades creates air pockets that absorb and trap heat and cold from the outdoors, making them a great choice for insulation during summer and winter.
2. Switch to Energy-Efficient Bulbs and Appliances
Simple steps like replacing traditional bulbs with energy-efficient bulbs and upgrading appliances from older models to energy-star-rated ones can make your home more energy efficient. Energy-efficient bulbs use 70% less electricity than traditional models, so switching will significantly reduce your monthly electric bill. Additionally, updated appliances are designed to save power by regulating temperature settings and using features like auto shut-off. Implementing a few simple energy efficiency tips like these can make a big difference.
3. Seal Your Doors with Weatherstripping
One of the quickest and most effective ways for how to make your home more energy efficient is sealing your exterior doors with weatherstripping. Weatherstripping blocks drafts from entering and exiting through any gaps or cracks around window and door frames, helping retain heat in the winter and cool air during the summer months. Not only does weatherstripping make your home more comfortable, but it can also help save money on your monthly energy bills. It’s a simple project that only requires a few supplies from your local hardware store, making it an easy and convenient way to start conserving energy.
4. Get a Tankless Water Heater
Don’t overlook switching to a tankless water heater when researching how to make a home more energy efficient. While it may cost more up-front, it will help you save money in the long run. Tankless water heaters instantly heat water as it enters the plumbing system, and they don’t store hot water like traditional tanks, resulting in less wasted energy.
5. Improve Your Home’s Insulation
If you are serious about learning how to make your home more energy efficient, take steps to improve the insulation. Insulating your home will reduce air leaks, resulting in lower electric bills. There are a variety of simple steps you can take to properly insulate your home. These include ensuring there are no gaps around exterior doors and windows, sealing around vents and pipes, adding attic insulation, and making sure existing insulation is in good condition.
6. Clean or Replace All Your Home’s Filters
When investigating how to make a home more energy efficient, you can’t go wrong with cleaning or replacing your home’s filters. Doing so will keep dust and allergens at bay while helping to regulate temperature and humidity, both of which contribute to saving energy in the long run. Furthermore, a clean filter reduces strain on the HVAC system, allowing it to perform better with much less effort.
7. Use Natural Light
Creating an energy efficient home doesn’t have to be hard work. Simple changes like using natural light when possible can make all the difference. Natural light is free and abundant, eliminating the need for electric lights during the day, saving you money on electricity bills as well as reducing your carbon footprint. Start by fully opening curtains and blinds in rooms with windows facing east or west. Also, look out for existing window fixtures like skylights and sun tunnels to let light into darker spots of your home.
8. Turn Off and Unplug Your Electronics
When looking into how to make your home more energy efficient, one of the simplest things you can do is turn off and unplug all electronics when not in use. Devices still draw power from electrical outlets when turned off but plugged in. This drained energy adds up quickly and can significantly impact your electric bill. You don’t have to unplug everything–simply turning your electronic devices off at the wall or switch will help you save energy and make your home more energy efficient.
9. Wash Your Clothes in Cold Water
It’s great that you’ve taken the time to think about how to make your home more energy efficient. One final thing you can do is wash your clothes with cold water. By doing this and making it a habit, you’ll be able to conserve plenty of energy throughout the year while also keeping costs down.
Create an Energy Efficient Home with EcoSmart Shades
At EcoSmart Shades, we provide an excellent option for those wanting a simple and effective way to reduce energy costs. Our window shades offer state-of-the-art insulation technology, blocking out air leakage and heat transfer between your interior and exterior environment. This results in considerable savings on your energy bills and increases your home’s comfort levels, all while feeling good about doing something positive for the environment.
Ready to follow these energy efficiency tips to save money and conserve energy? Shop today for new cellular shades from EcoSmart Shades!