You might be worried about increasing energy costs, or you might just be renovating your house after being at home during COVID, or you might want to add some value for a potential sale. Whatever reason you’re thinking of for being more energy efficient, it’s a great time to do it and save some money, and the planet, at the same time.
Below we’ve listed some of the top ways you can easily and quickly cut your carbon footprint and reduce your spending on energy.
Install Energy-Efficient Lighting
As you’re looking around your house check whether you’re using energy-efficient LED bulbs. If you were to change all of the bulbs in your house with LED lights, you might be able to reduce your emissions by up to 90lbs per year. Lighting makes up between 11% and 14% of an average electricity bill, which means that switching to LEDs could save you money on your electrical bills too.
Richard Allen from Capital Bean says “With energy prices continuing to increase, it is worth looking at how much energy you’re spending each month. There are some very simple fixes you can make that can reduce your bills and keep your house warm during the winter. Double glazing is an easy one – great for the environment and also great when it comes to reselling your house.”
Replace Old Windows And Doors
Doors and windows are one of the biggest weak points for insulation in a house – especially if you own an older building. Double glazed windows and doors are a good place to start – but it can be pricey depending on what type of material you use. White PVC windows and doorframes are typically the cheapest with wood being one of the more expensive options. It also depends on what finishing you go for. Either way – it is worth looking at the overall cost for purchasing and installing these windows – it is great for energy efficiency but can also increase the resale value of the house.
Install Smart Meters
There are many products on the market now to control both the heating and electricity in your home. They not only reduce your energy consumption but also make you more aware of what you’re using and when. It also allows you to remotely change the temperature at home – great if you’ve run out on an errand and forgot to turn down the heating when you left the house.
Insulate Your Roof
Unless you live in an apartment that is surrounded by other properties your roof will be another spot that easily loses heat. Most houses are built with some type of insulation in the roof, but you can always add more. Increasing the amount of insulation from 4 in to 10 in can save you up to $25 per year on your bills. If you can easily get to your attic then you could even do this job yourself.
Install Solar Panels
If you’re looking for a bigger renovation project and your budget stretches to it – solar panels could be a good option. There are many subsidies available from the government depending on which state you live in and can reduce your energy bill down to the amount you are paying for your solar panel each month.
Add Draught Proofing
If you were to invest in professional draught proofing for every door, window, floor, and baseboard and you could save around $100 a year and reduce your carbon emissions by up to 500lbs. If you can’t afford to put in professional draught liners then heavy curtains can also reduce the draught in most rooms.
