7 easy ways to save money and be energy efficient
Saving money and being environmentally friendly are important to a lot of homeowners. There are many ways to achieve this. In fact, you can have an energy audit done on your home to help inform how to achieve these goals. There are also some simple ways to make your home more energy efficient and save you money.
Add insulation to your attic and walls. Roughly 35% of heat is lost through the walls and attic, either through conduction or physical contact. Adding insulation helps prevent such heat loss.
Add energy efficient windows. New windows can be an expensive prospect. There are lots of ways to achieve this, though. You can replace a few at a time or save up and do them all. 25%-30% of loss of heating and cooling comes through inefficient windows.
Caulk around your window and doors. Making sure your windows and door are sealed helps prevent loss of heat and cooling. This will save you money and help with energy efficiency.
Have your fireplace inspected. Chimneys and fireplaces are another major area of heat and cooling energy loss. Have your inspected and repaired to make sure yours is working properly.
Take care of your trees. If your house has trees nearby, make sure they are properly taken care of. Trimming trees and making sure they stay away from your roof and foundation is essential. The trees will save you money on cooling in the summer. Making sure they are not damaging your home is important though.
Have your HVAC systems serviced before use as the seasons change. Before you use your furnace in the cooler seasons, have a technician come and look at it to make sure it is working properly. The same holds true for your cooling system in the warmer months. Making sure those systems are in good working order will save you money and make your home more energy efficient.
Use your thermostat efficiently. Energy.gov suggests that setting your thermostat at 68 degrees in winter and 78 degrees in summer with a 7-10 degree difference for sleeping is the most efficient way to regulate temperature in your home. This is another easy was to save money and be more energy efficient.
These seven tips will help you save money and be more environmentally friendly. For more information about taking care of your home and home inspection related topics, please visit my website.
