Energy Efficiency Saves in Small Measures
In order to have a proper perspective of how much energy saving measures will have in your new or existing home, you have to know the paramenters of energy saving capability as well as have the right expectation for the process going into it. If you live in a much older home, built in an older neighborhood during a time when real estate was not as “coded” as it is today, you can expect to see a more dramatic increase in savings after spending more money up front to make changes. This is because building codes are truly on the cutting edge of emerging green techniques which are constantly promoting more structurally sealed homes with low-energy, efficient technologies installed in them. The savings really do add up, though, through a combination of several energy saving techniques. Home buyers and homeowners can be assured that energy efficiency saves in small measures that over a year’s time give a return on investment.
Start Simple
Because the process of building is an imperfect process (no matter how detail-oriented your builder is) performed by mutliple contractors who “touch the job” once and then leave, you would be amazed as to how much small spaces and leaks allow air and moisture into your home. To begin the energy efficiency process, you will want to seal your home as much as possible by caulking and sealing the spaces around your plumbing pipes, electrical systems, light fixtures, and windows as well as the unused portions of your home which can include your attic or crawl space below. By closing up these areas to air and moisture, you can reduce the amount of air it takes to heat and cool your home.
Work on Major Systems When Possible
HVAC systems are notorious for being big energy suckers, so if you have the money to invest in a completely new system which would include an overhead air conditioning and furnace system (the most energy efficient way to heat and cool your home), you should do so. If you don’t have the finances for such an expense, having a contractor come out for a service call to inspect your ductwork for blockages or leaks will make sure that your ducts area as efficient as possible. Clean ductwork allows better airflow which heats and cools a space more quickly.
Small Changes Make a Big Difference
While you are inspecting and focusing in on your HVAC system, you will also want to immediately replace your thermostat if you do not already have an electronic thermostat. Electronic thermostats can run from $28 – $120 depending on how quality or complicated you would like them to be. This is a small investment which makes a HUGE difference in your heating and cooling bill. Buy purchasing a programmable thermostat, you are able to control your home’s temperature when you are home, away at work, or sleeping to keep your heater or air conditioner from “running all day.”
Change Your Ambiance and Save Energy
Another suggestion as a way to reduce the amount of energy used in your home is to replace all of your light bulbs with bulbs that are either CFLs or LED lights. However, if you are affected by lighting and the ambiance it provides, you could end up spending a lot on the front end to get the desired lighting affect you would like with LED lighting – the closest lighting alternative to old fashioned light bulbs. If you aren’t picky about lighting, the new CFL light bulbs are energy efficient and last longer than old fashioned bulbs and are becoming more affordable as well.
Adjust Your Temps During Warmer Months
The last energy savings idea to use is to reduce the water temperature on your hot water heater. “Out of the box,” hot water heaters are programmed to approximately 140 degrees. If you reduce this to 120 degrees, you can save on heating expenses. Also, by insulating the pipes on your hot water heater and the pipes going into either the wall or the floor, you can maintain the heated water as well. While this might be a good idea during warmer spring and summer months, you may want to increase the temperature again during colder weather months because the air temperature feels cooler when you shower or bathe.
By using these energy efficient techniques altogether, you can drastically reduce the amount of money you spend each month on your energy bills. If you are only able to do a couple or few of the ideas at present, your savings will be less. However, any money saved is money that can be used for other life necessities in a tough economy.
