A FEW STEPS ON HOW TO MAKE YOUR HOME MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT
In this era of more eco-friendly lifestyles and more efficient energy expenditure, it is expected that we also build our homes along those same eco-friendly guidelines. Not only are energy-efficient houses generally more eco-friendly, but they also help cut costs on the electricity bill. Some are just a few minor adjustments that can really go a long way in the future or major overhauls and renovations on vital parts of the home. No matter which option you take to make your home more energy efficient, we’ll offer easy ideas to get you started.
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Replace old appliances:
If you can get over the crippling nostalgia we instinctively attach to most of our older appliances we’ll realize just how inefficient and energy-consuming they can be. So if it’s within your budget a total overhaul of the house, especially the kitchen may be in order. Focus especially on gadgets that are designed to produce heat (boilers, irons, toasters etc.) and old gadgets that produce more heat than normal as this covers a large percent of your energy expenditure.
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Responsible energy use:
Most people are surprised when they find out how much they can cut off their monthly power bill just by doing something as simple as turning off the light bulb as you leave a room or turning off the television when nobody is watching it. Look for ways you can minimize energy usage and maximize your energy bill. Just remember, little things can go a long way. Something as simple as a motion detector in rooms that automatically shuts off after the movement isn’t being detected or timers on bathroom vent fans.
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Invest in a tankless water heater:
On Demand-type water heaters ( also called tankless or instantaneous water heaters) only provide hot water on demand. This helps avoid unnecessary standby energy losses associated with traditional water heaters. Since it doesn’t have a tank the cold water is run through the pipes and heated up before it leaves the unit instantly when you turn on the faucet. Compared to the traditional style hot water tanks that are constantly heating up the water in the tank regardless of whether you need it deeming it much less energy efficient.
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Get rid of incandescent lights:
On average a middle-sized suburban home in the United States dedicates at least 10% of its power consumption to lighting, which in most households is used wastefully. Traditional incandescent bulbs are only capable of transforming 10% of their energy into light, the rest is lost as heat. So it is only natural to replace a wasteful and archaic option with newer, more energy-efficient, and more durable options like LED’s and CFL’s. Another good habit to pick up is to turn off lights in rooms that are not being used, or better yet get rid of all unnecessary light fixtures.
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Try daylighting instead of electrical lights:
Daylighting basically means using natural light to illuminate the interior of your home as opposed to the use of energy-consuming electrical lights. That means investing in things such as skylights, light shelves, clerestory windows, and light tubes. Not only will this give your home a modern look but will also save the planet at the same time, so why not kill two birds with one stone (figuratively of course).
If you do decide to go with a more in-depth energy efficient plan to become a more “green” home please give us a call. We specialize in green building and energy-efficient building and remodeling checkout our gallery to see more.