One of the best benefits of completing a home improvement project is enjoying a good return on your investment. Energy-efficient upgrades can effectively lower your home’s energy consumption, providing long-term advantages for your budget and the environment.
Upgrading your furnace
During the cold months of the year, your furnace probably accounts for a large percentage of your home’s energy usage. High winter utility bills that continue to rise over time could be a sign that your furnace is not performing as it should. This may be due to a repairable problem or to simple old age. If your furnace is several years old, you may want to look into the benefits of a new furnace installation. Upgrading to a modern, energy-efficient furnace can drastically reduce your utility costs.
Installing a smart thermostat
A common source of wasted energy in a home is unnecessary heating and cooling that occurs when a house is unoccupied. A programmable thermostat can help you reduce the load on your HVAC system when you aren’t home. However, you may get even more benefits from a smart thermostat, which can automatically reduce energy usage when you are not home and allow you to access your HVAC settings from anywhere through a smartphone app.
Adding ceiling fans
Your home may use a lot of energy in the summer if you have an air conditioner. You can reduce the load on your HVAC system by installing ceiling fans or investing in small portable fans. Adding fans to bedrooms and living spaces can help improve air circulation and allow you to be comfortable even when your thermostat is set to a warmer temperature. Depending on the climate where you live, you may even be able to turn off the air conditioner at night, open the windows, and use fans to help circulate the cool outdoor air.
Switching to LED light bulbs
You may not think about how much energy you are using every time you turn on a lamp, but the light fixtures in your home can end up costing a lot to run if they use incandescent light bulbs. Switching to energy-efficiency LED bulbs may require a small investment at first, but these bulbs use significantly less energy than traditional incandescent ones, lowing your utility bills. They also last far longer, so you don’t have to replace them as often.
Improving the insulation
If you have unfinished areas of your home, such as an attic or crawlspace, there’s a chance that heated or cooled indoor air escapes to the outdoors quite easily in these spaces. A constant exchange of indoor and outdoor air can make it more difficult to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature. Adding insulation can help stop heat loss in the winter, reducing the strain on your furnace. It may only take a couple of years for the lower utility bills to cover the cost of the insulation.
There are several home improvement projects that can lower your utility bills. Both small tasks, such as installing a thermostat, and larger projects, such as replacing your furnace, can help improve your home’s energy-efficiency.
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