How To Increase The Energy-Efficiency of Your Home
Anyone who owns a house wants to keep their overhead down and their bills low. One of the best things to do in order to accomplish this is to make sure that your house is as energy-efficient as possible. There are many ways to do this, and it starts with the most costly energy users.
Once you take a look at what uses the most energy, you will begin to take the right steps to change that. It really begins with space heating and works back from there. Before you know it, you will increase the energy-efficiency of your home and be saving money too.
Space Heating
There is an estimated 40 percent of home energy used for space heating. This means that if your system of heating is not working correctly or does not possess the highest energy-efficiency as possible, as much as 30 to 50 percent of the energy is wasted. You should not only see to it that your system is efficient, but you should also use the right type of system for your individual home. There is the central system, one in which air or water is heated in one area then distributed by a fan or pump to each part of the home. A zoning system, on the other hand, has heating units contained in each room or space and the temperature is controlled by its thermostat. It depends on a lot of factors, but choosing the right system can really help you out.
Windows
Beyond your water heating system, letting out heat and cold air is another problem. First, you should see if your windows are tinted or coated. Using a film over the glass and glazing it can be very helpful for keeping the heat and cold in. It is an investment in your home’s energy-efficiency that will save you money in the end. Furthermore, having the right window frames can help you save energy used on the system that controls the temperature. The things around the windows also affect the temperature. For example, the color of your blinds can either reflect heat or attract it. Your blinds and pelmet should be so tight that there is no room for the air to get through. Curtains should be thick in the winter and thin during the summer. Use ventilation when it’s hot.
Appliances
Seeing to it that your appliances have the highest energy-efficiency as possible will completely change the amount you are paying for energy. If your fridge door isn’t sealed properly, it will let a lot of cold air out and work extra hard to keep your items cold. The same goes for the freezer. If there is an ice build-up, your freezer will work harder. Microwaves should be turned off. Change your washing machine setting. Don’t leave things on standby mode.
Lighting
Lighting is another cost as well. Light globes need to be replaced in your home with energy-efficient bulbs. You can purchase compact fluorescent lamps, but in most cases they’re easy to install. Lights outside can have motion sensors. Combining light switches can individually turn on the only lights that you need. Less light means less energy being consumed. Using smaller lamps for tasks like reading or studying means you’re lighting a smaller space compared to an entire room.
Insulation
According to MoneyPug, which is used to switch energy, what your home is made of, like bricks, timber, or cladding materials all have different insulation properties. Ceiling and roofing insulation is installed under the roofing and above the ceiling, which reduces the heat gain from the roofing material passing into your home by stopping heat transfer between roof space and rooms below. Wall insulation in wall cavities around stud frames and within solid walls that can help you save 20 percent of the energy used for heating and cooling. Floor insulation in cool climates can help retain warmth and reduce the effort required from your heater. Downlight protectors can reduce heat loss from your home by sealing any gaps around the lights.
There are a lot of ways to decrease the amount of energy use in your home while increasing your home’s energy-efficiency. Start with heating, it is by far the most costly part of keeping up a home. You can make sure that your household is energy-efficient and effective. With so many options to change your home and work to decrease the number of your bills. You can do it, and you can save more than you ever thought.