Unless it’s mid-to-late Spring or early-to-mid fall, odds are you’re constantly running the heater or air conditioner. It can be difficult to get comfortable during our North Carolina summers and winters, but worse, getting comfortable could be costing you more than you think.
It’s not just your heating and cooling bill that might be costing you. If your home isn’t energy efficient, you could be losing money every day.
Stop spending all your hard-earned money on bills. Here are eight simple things you can do to help make your home more energy efficient:
- Replace your insulation. Whether you want to hire a company or do it yourself, replacing or adding your own insulation to the attic is typically a one- or two-day project. Adding insulation can make a huge difference when it comes to your heating and cooling bills and will go a long way in helping keep your house more comfortable year-round.
- Replace an older furnace with an energy efficient model. Thanks to technology, furnaces have become more and more energy efficient, making it cheaper and less harsh on the environment to heat your home and stay comfortable during the winter. Try upgrading your older model to a new and energy efficient furnace and watch your heating bill go down.
- Change your lightbulbs. If you haven’t already, changing your lightbulbs from incandescent to LED or CFL can save you a lot of energy and, in turn, a lot of money. Although more expensive than regular incandescent lightbulbs, LEDs and CFLs can save you that money and more in the long-run not only with energy savings, but with longer lasting lifespans.
- Seal your windows. Replacing windows, although effective, can get pretty pricey. If you’re not ready to spend the money on new windows, work with your existing windows and seal any air leaks. This will help prevent cold or hot air from sneaking in and running up your bills and may make the outside noise a little bit quieter.
- Upgrade your appliances. With today’s technology, it seems as though upgraded appliances are released every year (we’re still waiting for an oven and range that cook for you). Even if you don’t like or want to spend the money on the latest model, there are plenty of other models that are more energy efficient than the one you inherited from your parents or that got left when you bought your home so long ago.
- Plant some trees. Trees can do wonders for helping keep your home cool during the summer and can even help keep your home warmer during the winter. Although in comparison to insulation they may not make a huge difference, trees act as an extra defense against the elements and a natural (beautiful) layer of insulation for your home.
- Unplug chargers you aren’t using. It’s super simple. It doesn’t require much more than remembering to do it. But unplugging your chargers when they aren’t in use can save you money on your electric bill. Believe it or not, even when nothing’s plugged in, they use up power.
- Install solar panels. Solar panels used to be a thing of the future, but now, more affordable than ever, they’re becoming an everyday commodity. Whether you want to re-roof using solar panel shingles or just want to install one or two where the sun shines most, installing solar panels can help supplement your bills.
Interested in other ways you can make your home more energy efficient and save? We can help. Contact us now.