Home owners are faced with a number of concerns that they may not be used to, having most likely spent years renting and deferring problems to their landlords. However, now that you actually own your home, it is up to you to take care of home improvement projects and keep on top of maintenance. One of the biggest concerns for home owners today is saving energy, both to help protect the environment and cut down on utility bills. Most of our natural resources are becoming rarer every day, which is driving up the cost of energy as time goes by.
In order to save energy at home, there are plenty of things you can do besides turning off the lights when you leave a room and unplugging your computers overnight. Various home improvement projects can make your house more energy efficient and environmentally friendly, and these projects are often not as difficult as you’d think.
Insulation is one of the biggest factors in home energy conservation, especially in the winter. If your home is not properly insulated, your heat is escaping through your walls and ceilings almost as fast as you can turn up the thermostat to pump in more hot air. Insulation in walls may be a job best left to professionals, but one of the most important places to insulate is your attic, and this can be done relatively easily on your own. Think of it like a winter cap for your house. You’ll be surprised what a difference an insulated attic can make.
Other common culprits for energy waste in homes are the minuscule cracks and leaks in your walls that can allow cold air to seep in. If you’ve ever sat in your living room during winter with all your windows and doors shut, and still felt a draft, then your most likely dealing with one of these wall leaks. Plugging up these leaks, which are most often found around doors and windows, is an easy process. Visit your local hardware or home improvement retailer to get the necessary supplies, and plug up your holes today.
Replacing your old doors and windows can help with energy efficiency as well. Old fashioned single-pane windows can be substituted for modern double-pane sealed windows that help to keep out extreme temperatures, regulating your indoor climate. If you have older hollow doors, these should be replaced as well–they offer practically no insulation and very little security as well. In cities from Los Angeles to Louisville heating is becoming increasingly expensive, so make sure your home is ready for the winter months.
Electricity can be a killer as well, so bolster your energy savings by following up your home improvements with other power conserving practices. Aside from the usual precautions, make your home more efficient by using energy saving power strips for your electronics, investing in energy efficient lighting, and even using candle-light instead of electric lamps whenever possible. There are literally hundreds of things you can do to make your home more energy efficient, so don’t waste any time in getting started.
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