When planning to improve the energy efficiency of your property, you are left with two options. You can either opt for quick fixes that will save you money on energy bills or invest in more significant upgrades that add the most value to your house. While the decision you make will depend on your current needs and financial capabilities, there are many energy-efficient upgrades you can implement into your home.
Below, you will find a list of several home improvement ideas — both minor fixes and large upgrades — for making your house energy-efficient. Apart from installing a programmable thermostat and investing in a portable generator, they also include adding insulation, sealing doors and windows, switching to LED light bulbs, and installing a solar water heating system. Continue reading to find the solutions that will meet your needs.
Installing a Programmable Thermostat
One of the most effective methods to reduce energy consumption in your home is to install a programmable thermostat. Aside from automating temperature controls and turning on and off air conditioning, this device also allows you to set different temperature settings at different times of the day.
This way, you can reduce energy consumption and save money by lowering or increasing the temperature when you are out of the house or asleep.
Using a Portable Generator
If you don’t have access to electricity and want to get it quickly, portable generators can be a good choice. They come with a small motor and are usually powered by gas or diesel. While they do not operate continuously, they can provide enough electricity to power up your appliances during blackouts and power outages.
Still, make sure to check GENERATOR REVIEWS & BUYER’S GUIDES before purchasing a new generator to not end up with a low-quality item.
Installing Insulation
Insulation is essential for making your property energy-efficient because it prevents warm or cool air from escaping outside your property. The use of fiberglass or polyurethane insulation in attics, walls, floors, and ceilings will ensure that heated or cooled air gets trapped inside your home during winter and summer, respectively. In addition to improving energy efficiency, the use of insulation will help you save money on heating and cooling costs.
Sealing Doors and Windows
Part of making your property energy-efficient is ensuring that warm or cool air doesn’t escape outside through doors and windows. Another method to achieve this result is by sealing the gaps around doors and windows with caulk, especially if they are old or poorly insulated.
In addition to reducing energy costs, sealing doors and windows will also help prevent cold drafts from entering your property during winter and hot drafts from entering your property during summer. As a result, your house will become a more comfortable place to live in.
Switching to LED Lighting
Replacing incandescent bulbs with LED lights will not only improve the energy efficiency of your home but also reduce your energy bills. LED lights are far more energy-efficient than incandescent bulbs and halogen lights because they consume less electricity to provide the same amount of light.
Moreover, LED lights last longer — up to 50 times longer than incandescent bulbs — and don’t contain mercury. If you want to reduce your monthly electricity bill, purchase a few LED lights and replace all incandescent bulbs with them.
Installing a Solar Water Heating System
One of the most popular home improvement ideas is solar water heating. This system consists of solar panels that absorb sunlight and transfer the heat to a water tank. The heated water is then transferred to a hot water cylinder or thermal store. You can use this system to heat your water for bathing, washing dishes, doing laundry, and even cooking.
In addition to saving energy, solar water heating can also save you money because you will no longer have to rely only on electricity from the grid. However, you need to live in an area with ample sunlight throughout the year in order to make this system work effectively.
In Conclusion
Improving energy efficiency in your home will lower your monthly energy bills and protect the environment by reducing air pollution. This way, you can add your small contribution to the fight against global warming.
The methods listed above are relatively easy to implement. However, if you decide to invest more money into significant upgrades such as installing a solar water heating system, make sure that you hire a certified professional. With reliable help by your side, you should have no problems seeing the project through to its completion.
Still, if these methods are too expensive or you can’t afford them at the moment, don’t worry – there is nothing wrong with ordering a few LED lights or investing in a portable generator. They will at least make your house more energy-efficient and save you money.
