Here at YellowLite we often talk about how we love to help our consumers and readers make choices that increase their home’s energy efficiency. We want all of America to be conscious of their energy consumption and adopt a lifestyle that is beneficial for both us and the planet. Going solar for your energy needs is a great way to achieve that, but what if you’re not ready to make that change? Well, there are some other small changes that you can make to ensure that you’re living to boost your home’s energy efficiency.
Get Your Walls and Attic Insulated:
Well insulated walls ensure that heat doesn’t leave the house in winters and doesn’t get inside it in summers. This means that less energy is required to heat or cool the room. Getting your walls and attic insulated can increase the energy efficiency of your house in the long run. When looking for an expert to do this for you, remember that the expert’s experience matters more than the materials being used.
Time to Upgrade or Replace Your Windows:
Take a good look at those windows and see if you can identify some cracks or leaks. These can be fixed by a replacement or weatherstripping. However, replacing windows isn’t enough to ensure energy efficiency and savings. The real trick is to replace single glazed windows with Energy Star approved energy efficient windows. Now, this may seem like a big investment but trust us, energy efficient window replacement is one home remodeling project that gives pretty good returns on investment.
Literally Go Green Around the House
If your house is on the older side, planting shrubs and trees, especially on the west side of the house can save your energy. These trees will block the infrared rays from the sun in summers and in winters the bare branches will allow the same rays to warm up the house. If you have a newer house with insulation and Energy Star Windows, the trees might not be as effective since these features will be limiting the heat gain anyways.
Got a Hot Water System? Make it Energy Efficient:
Follow these steps to save more energy through your hot water system:
- Turn down the temperature of your water heater to the “warm” setting i.e 120°F.
- Insulate your hot water lines so they don’t lose heat quickly between uses.
- Use low-flow fixtures for showers and baths.
Let’s Replace Those Incandescent Bulbs:
Did you know that compact fluorescent lamps can save you three-quarters of the energy that is being used by incandescent bulbs? Well, you know now. CLFs cost about two-three dollars and last about 10,000 hours and use only about 27% of the energy used by a 100-watt incandescent bulb. Most people don’t even consider this as an important option when it comes to saving energy. Remember, it is with the small changes that you can conserve energy.
Go Green With Your Appliance Usage:
Like we mentioned before, it is the small things that make the bigger impact in the longer run. The way you use your appliances can save you a lot of energy wastage and improve your home's energy efficiency. Here are a few things that you can do:
- Unplug your appliances when they’re not in use. Some of your appliances have a standby mode, which means they use energy even if they’re not being used at the time.
- Buy appliances that have a good energy rating. The more stars an appliance has, the more energy efficient it is. But, think about size first. A larger appliance may seem more energy efficient but it also consumes more energy.
There you have it. You can increase the energy efficiency of your home by making these small changes. If you’re using a renewable source of energy like solar panels to power your home, these steps can also increase the efficiency of the said source of energy.
