Add Comfort and Convenience While You are Environmentally Conscious
As time goes on we are seeing shifts towards energy savings and efficiency across all industries and products from hybrid cars to energy-saving models for a wide variety of products. These days we are seeing homeowners display interest in eco-conscious upgrades as they perform home improvement projects while buyers are searching for these items in a new home to purchase. If you are looking to invest in some of these types of upgrades at your current home, here are some helpful tips on things you can do.
Sealing up gaps
Some older homes may have more gaps or points of weakness that should be sealed up. One spot that often gets overlooked is ceiling cans or flood lights as a good amount of air can escape through them.
Insulation
Certain areas of your home like basements, attics, or storage rooms can often be problems for energy loss. Be sure that they are insulated to help combat energy loss.
Energy audit
One of the best ways to make sure you are tending to the most important areas in your home is to do a full home energy audit. This involves having a professional come visit your home along with a review of your utility bills. Suggestions are then made for how you can improve your home’s efficiency. These audits are sometimes offered by your utility company or third-party vendors.
Doors and Windows
If you have old doors or windows then it may be time for an upgrade. New models will typically be more efficient than your older more basic ones with an inferior construction.
Thermostat
Smart thermostats are a hot item! Being able to program your thermostat and manually control it from your smartphone regardless of your location will help you regulate your usage. As a result, this can help you lower your energy costs while increasing comfort and convenience.
Ceiling Fans
Ceiling fans can help cool off the rooms you are using rather than turning on the AC output for the entire home. Be sure your core rooms like bedrooms or living rooms have them.
Tankless Water Heater
A tankless water heater saves you money as it only uses energy as you use it. Those with standard tanks regularly heat the water throughout the day keeping a reserve warm for whenever you plan to use it.
Appliances
You can potentially make some big improvements in your kitchen with your appliances. Your refrigerator and dishwasher are good places to start as they are significantly more efficient than even the past decade or so. Take it one step further and update your toilets and shower heads to ones that help with water efficiency and consumption too.
