Maintaining an energy efficient home is a great way to do your part for the environment while also keeping more money in your wallet. Even if you want to start making your home more energy-efficient, you might not know where to start. Here are some important tips for increasing your home’s energy efficiency.
Use Energy-Efficient Air Conditioners
Air conditioners are typically the biggest expense on your monthly electricity bill. That’s why you should look into investing in an energy efficient air conditioner. You should find out what type of AC unit is best for you. For instance, ductless air conditioners allow for little to no air loss in your home. They can be perfect for parts of your house that get warmer than others, and you can have a custom temperature in each room with a ductless AC unit. If you decide a ductless unit isn’t for you, consider putting in an Energy Star approved air conditioner with a high SEER rating. It’s also important to make sure your HVAC system is the right size for your home, so that you aren’t using more energy than you have to.
Light Up Your Home With LED
LED lighting is the future of lighting. It has already proven to be very popular in kitchen spaces, especially to light up dark cabinetry areas. They are also becoming the popular choice for holiday lights and headlights for luxury brand cars. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, LED lighting uses 75% less energy and lasts 25% longer than incandescent lighting. As LED technology improves, LED lights are becoming cheaper and more prevalent in everyday life, so why not join in on this money-saving trend?
Wash Clothes in Cold Water
Most of the energy used up my washing machines is used to heat up the water. You can save a lot of money by making sure your machine is running on a cold cycle. You can also improve the efficiency of your washing machine by running fewer loads. Try not to run too many half loads as that energy use can add up quickly.
Keep Your Windows Sealed
If you have drafty windows, you could be losing a lot of cool air and a lot of money. Sealing your windows is fairly inexpensive and will save you a lot of money and energy in the long run. You can use caulking or weather-strips to seal your windows. You can find these items at any hardware or home improvement store.
There are plenty of things you can do on your own to improve energy efficiency in your home, but you might need some help with deciding on the perfect air conditioning system for your home. Luckily, Champion Home Services can help you figure out and install the perfect energy efficient AC system for your needs.
