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January
15
15
Slash Energy Expenses in 2024: Homeowner's Guide to Efficiency
A great resolution you can make in the new year is to reduce your energy usage. Not only is it good for the environment, it will save you money as well. January 10th is National Cut Your Energy Costs Day, so what better time to map out a plan for energy conservation? Especially if you've just moved to a new house, our real estate agents can show you the best ways to use your new home efficiently. Here are a few tips.
- Fixing Problems. First, find the areas in your home that are actively causing energy losses and repair them. A great way to do this is to schedule a home energy audit, where an energy expert goes through your home to find the issues. The audit includes a test to reveal air leaks in your home and a check for ductwork leaks as well as checks of your major appliances to see if they're functioning efficiently. Once the audit is done, the auditor can then recommend how best to optimize your home's energy use.
- Appliance Upgrades. How old is your dishwasher? Your washer/dryer? Your heating and cooling system? As they get older, they become less efficient. Meanwhile, energy-efficient technologies improve every year. If you replace your appliances with new models, they'll likely use less energy and save you money. To find the most efficient appliances, look for the Energy Star logo, which certifies that that model will save both money and energy over others in the same price range while still providing the same overall performance and features.
- Smart Upgrades. Several appliances have smart features that allow you to control them from your mobile device. In addition to being convenient, this can also save you energy. Two of the biggest smart upgrades are smart thermostats and smart lighting. Smart thermostats can learn your schedule and switch automatically to energy-saving mode when no one's home. Smart lighting systems can sense when someone's in the room and turn the lights on or off accordingly. They also run on LED bulbs, which use much less energy than fluorescent or incandescent bulbs to provide the same amount of light, and include options to adjust the brightness and even the lighting color to suit your needs.
- Insulation. By far, your home's biggest energy consumers are your furnace and A/C. That means one of your biggest steps toward improving efficiency is keeping your house at a comfortable temperature. Insulation can go a long way in that regard. It slows the heat flow, keeping it in during the winter and out during the summer, so your HVAC system doesn't have to work as hard. The best place for insulation is your attic since heat rises. However, if you're looking to do a more extensive remodel, you can also add insulation to your floor and your walls, for more even temperature regulation throughout your home.
- Solar Panels. This is a big investment, but it's worth it in the long run. Solar panels can greatly reduce or even eliminate your reliance on the power grid, instead powering your home with clean, renewable, free energy. A 6kw solar system can save you around $30,000 over its lifetime and increase your home's value as well. Plus, there are a number of rebates, tax breaks, and other incentives that can offset the cost of purchasing and installing the panels.
If you're looking to move to a more energy-efficient home, contact us. We'll help you find the house that best meets your needs in a neighborhood that you'll love.
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