10 Energy Efficient Tips for your Home.

When we think about energy efficiency it’s important to know where we use the most energy in our homes. According to the United States Energy Information Administration, the residential sector is the 3rd largest consumer of energy. So, which parts of our homes use the most energy?

More than half (51%) of our household’s energy consumption is used for heating and cooling of our homes. Now of course there may be additional factors such as your home’s location and climate, the efficiency of your HVAC unit, and even the number of members in your household. We’ve developed some easy tips that will help you address your largest energy consumers within the household.

10 Energy Efficient Tips for your Home.

Consider changing to LED bulbs over incandescent bulbs.

These bulbs may be more expensive than standard incandescent bulbs, but since 2015 there has been an increased shift to LED bulbs and their pricing has become more affordable in 2021.

Ensuring your home is air-tight & insulated.

We often mention that you should seal your cracks with standard maintenance and check the weather strips between each season. Sealing cracks, gaps, and leaks and adding insulation can tremendously improve your home’s annual heating and cooling costs.

Always ensure you keep up with your air filter maintenance.

Did you know the number one maintenance issue for HVAC systems is not changing the system filter? You should be changing your filters every 30 to 90 days, depending on the brand and if you have pets in your household. This simple task tremendously improves the system’s performance to help save money and ensure cleaner air quality within your home.

Adjust your blinds throughout the year.

Open shades during the fall and winter months to let the sunlight help warm your home. During warmer months, close blinds, shades, and drapes to help keep your home’s temperature cooler.

Incorporate the use of natural light in your home.

Some homes come with skylights that let natural light into a room, or using light from windows is an excellent option.

Turn off electronics you are not actively using.

Only turn on your computer, monitors, printers, and various electronics when you need them. Studies show these electronics can be energy vampires when left on when not in use.

Set your thermostat to recommended temperatures.

It’s strongly recommended to set your thermostat to 78F in the summer and 68F in the winter. I recommend installing a smart home thermostat that will automatically adjust the temperature according to your schedule, whether you are at home or work.

Utilize your ceiling fans.

Adjust fans to rotate clockwise to push warm air downwards in the fall and winter seasons. Some fans have a reverse switch that lets you rotate the direction the fan blades spin. Utilizing ceiling fans will allow flexibility to your thermostat settings with no reduction in comfort.

Replace your contractor grade or single-pane windows.

If your home has single-pane windows (these are often considered contractor grade), consider replacing them with more energy-efficient windows, adding shades, or tinting the glass. Personally, in my home, this was the best investment.

Turn off the lights when they’re not in use.

Now it may be common sense, but lighting accounts for about 12% of a typical residential utility bill. I’ve found smart bulbs to be a great investment in helping set up routines and ensure I don’t leave lights on while at work or on vacation.