How energy-efficient is your home? There are two very good reasons to do give your home a full energy check-up to make sure it is as efficient as possible. First, having an energy-efficient home means lower energy costs, a boon to your bank balance. Secondly, taking better control of your energy usage at home is better for the environment. We all need to do what we can to reduce our carbon footprint, and one of the best ways to do that is by reducing our energy consumption at home.
Here's a few suggestions on how to do just that.
Here's a few suggestions on how to do just that.
How To Reduce Energy Consumption In Your Home
Maintain Or Replace Your Heating And Air Conditioning
Heating and air conditioning account for a great deal of energy usage in any home. But when you have an older HVAC system that is either not well maintained or is outdated and inefficient, continued use will no doubt end up costing you considerably more than a newer model would.
Contact your current HVAC company for a quote on service and if possible, an upgrade to an Energy-Star certified HVAC system. If you don't have a heating and cooling company you typically deal with, then obtain quotes from reputable HVAC companies to see what they can do to get your system either serviced or completely replaced. A free estimate on a new system could save you hundreds of dollars per month on your energy bills, but won't cost you anything but a few minutes of your time.
Be Sure Your Home Is Properly Insulated
A properly insulated home allows it to stay cool in summer and warm in winter, thus you won't have to crank up the heat or the air conditioning just to feel comfortable. According to our friends at energystar.gov, if your home suffers from poor insulation, you can be spending upwards of 15% more per year on your heating and cooling bills.
if you have drafty windows or poorly-sealed doors, an easy and inexpensive fix is with weatherstripping and caulking. You can also hire an energy assessor or other weatherization expert to test your home for air tightness. Check with your local energy provider to see if they provide such services. Sometimes they may even offer them free of charge!
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Get A Smart Meter
Having your home fitted with a smart meter can help you to reduce your overall energy consumption. Smart meters let you see your energy use in real time, along with the actual amount that it is costing you. This is a great way to manage your energy consumption and see where the majority of your energy dollars are going. And speaking of energy dollars, by having a smart meter you can say goodbye to estimated billing and meter reading--once your smart meter is installed you will begin to see more accurate energy bills, and can easily check your usage by visiting your account on your energy provider's website.
Contact your energy provider to see if smart meters are available in your area and what you need to do to get one installed on your home.
Having your home fitted with a smart meter can help you to reduce your overall energy consumption. Smart meters let you see your energy use in real time, along with the actual amount that it is costing you. This is a great way to manage your energy consumption and see where the majority of your energy dollars are going. And speaking of energy dollars, by having a smart meter you can say goodbye to estimated billing and meter reading--once your smart meter is installed you will begin to see more accurate energy bills, and can easily check your usage by visiting your account on your energy provider's website.
Contact your energy provider to see if smart meters are available in your area and what you need to do to get one installed on your home.
Taking It Even Further
There are many more ways that you can reduce your energy consumption in your home, like generating your own power. By having solar panels fitted, you can create your own renewable energy that will save you money on energy costs, while reducing your home's carbon footprint.
Curious about how much electricity costs for the most common household uses? Check this out:
Infographic courtesy of eversource.com
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