In order to create an energy efficient home, little things can go a long way. Many homeowners automatically think about solar power and solar panels in reference to energy efficiency of their homes. And of course, installing solar panels and similarly powered devices is a great way to go green, conserve energy and money.
6 simple ways to create an energy efficient home
However, there are also many other simple ideas, and solutions, that don’t cross our minds very often in relation to energy efficiency. These are things you can do right now! Some of them can be done on your own. None will leave a big dent in your budget. Without further ado, six simple ways to turn your home into an energy efficient one.
Changing lights
The first thing you can do: simply change lightbulbs. Changing your light bulbs around the house contributes greatly to the conservation of energy and decreasing your utility bills.
The regular, incandescent light bulbs waste a lot of energy and don’t last long. With new energy-efficient light bulbs, you will notice a great difference. You can choose between CFL and LED bulbs which last as much as 10 to 25 times longer, and consume much less power.
Landscaping
Who doesn’t like to have a well groomed and maintained landscape around the house?
- it adds to the curb appeal
- increases the value of your house
- it helps decrease your monthly energy bill
It helps the energy bill? How’s that?
Well, it’s simple enough. If you plant trees in the right spots, they can grow and create shade over your roof and windows. Trees can also lower the temperature around your house; less heat will enter it, and there’s less need for cooling.
Turning electronics off
This simple but significant way of decreasing your energy waste is connected with how we use our electronic devices. Nowadays, we cannot imagine our lives without them, and nearly every household has a number of them. But, they can drain a lot of energy without you even realizing.
When electronic devices are in standby mode, or even only plugged in, the power they consume comes to a significant amount, which also reflects on your bill. Remember to turn your devices completely off when they’re not in use and unplug all of your chargers. A good idea would also be to invest in smart power strips and adapters to further increase efficiency.
Insulating your house
Do you have trouble making your house warm or cool enough? Have you noticed a significant increase in your electric bill? If you have, then the problem may be in bad insulation, air leaks or roof damage.
To make your home energy-efficient, quality insulation and a proper roof are one of the most important things. You should have it inspected and replaced, or simply upgraded. Air leaks are easier to solve, and you can do it on your own. Simply caulk, foam spray or weather strip them, depending on where they are.
Investing in programmable thermostat
If you have dealt with your insulation, made sure everything is OK or replaced it, it’s time to invest in a new thermostat. A programmable thermostat will additionally improve the way you heat or cool your house. It will maintain an optimal indoor temperature, as well as turn off or down when nobody’s home, or at night.
Energy auditing
The best way to find out if your house has problems with wasting energy is to do an energy audit, an assessment of your house. It will determine specific problems, as well as the best solutions for them.
It’s the best way of discovering:
- air leaks
- insulation problems
- electronics draining the most power
Along with determining the problem, you also get recommendations on the best ways of creating an energy efficient home for yourself.
Conclusion
Whether you are encouraged by your care for the environment and the climate change, or the improvement of your own life and home budget, living consciously is a great decision. Conserving energy is a simple enough task, as you have seen above. By changing some simple everyday life habits and routines, and doing some minor changes around your house, you are already making a big step and an important green contribution.
About the Writer: Matt James is a freelance writer specialized in home improvement, smart technology, architecture & design. He has a love of outdoors and spending time with his dog Cooper. You can reach him on Facebook and Instagram.
