Your home is meant to keep your family safe and comfortable – but it should also help you save money by conserving energy. This can be possible with the right upgrades, but you’ll need a professional in exteriors remodeling who knows how to implement them properly to maximize their effectiveness. For instance, you can replace your siding with more cost-effective and energy-efficient composite materials!
However, you may be a bit hesitant to upgrade your home because of the high upfront costs that are needed for the project. Even switching to more energy-efficient lighting and appliances can cost a fortune, but that doesn’t mean you’ll lose more money in the long run. Instead, you’ll benefit from consuming less energy over time, which means you’ll pay lower monthly energy bills.
What are the best ways to increase your home’s energy efficiency?
Get an Energy Audit
If you’re not sure which parts of your home you need to improve to be more energy-efficient, you can always start by getting an energy audit. Some energy providers can send in an inspector to check your home and its surroundings. This person will make an assessment and recommend the best improvements to amplify your home’s energy efficiency. Once you know what types of energy efficiency home improvement projects you want to do, you can proceed to work with a trusted contractor who’ll find the best ways to implement them for you!
Install/Upgrade Your Home’s Insulation
Newer homes often have adequate insulation installed compared to homes that are several decades old. Even if your home is recently built, there’s a chance that you might not have enough insulation in the room below the roof. If you’re renovating an older home, make sure to discuss with your hired interior contractor about adding another layer of insulation. Old homes will benefit from having more insulation, especially since they’re more prone to heat loss, which can increase energy consumption.
If your home is under-insulated, it can greatly increase its energy consumption and lead to higher monthly electricity bills. Make sure to search online for the U.S. Department of Energy’s fact sheet, which can help you determine whether you have enough insulation installed depending on your local climate. Make sure each area of your home is also properly insulated, including your basement, crawl space and attic.
Upgrade Your Heating and Cooling Systems
You can also discuss with a professional about installing low-flow plumbing fixtures that only use the minimum amount of water needed to avoid excess usage. These are also inexpensive to install, which means you might also have the budget to upgrade to an electric water heater. This comes highly recommended, especially if your current system is near the end of its life expectancy. Consider upgrading to electric water heaters as they’re more economical and efficient than their fossil fuel-consuming counterparts!
Replace Your Old HVAC system
Even if sufficient maintenance has been done, an old HVAC won’t be as energy-efficient as it used to be and will keep working harder to maintain your home’s indoor temperatures. Newer models will run more efficiently and keep your home cool and comfortable while you save more on your energy bills.
But if a full HVAC replacement is beyond your budget at the moment, you can consider installing a programmable thermostat instead. This can enhance your heating and cooling efficiency by allowing you to set the climate control systems to provide you with optimal temperatures at a minimal cost. This means you can set it to automatically turn off or reduce heating and cooling while you’re asleep or not at home!
Repair or Replace Your Roofing System
Your roof is constantly exposed to harsh weather elements every day throughout its life expectancy. If it’s already around 20 years old, then you need to consider getting a full replacement. Another reason to get your roof replaced is if it already has cracked, loose and missing shingles, and if you have water leaks in your ceiling and walls. To make a more informed decision, talk to a trusted roofing contractor to know which material to choose that will improve your home’s energy efficiency.
Consider Installing Ceiling Fans
You might think that ceiling fans are just a nice decoration for your home’s interiors, but they also create a pleasant breeze that gently keeps circulating your indoor air. This is very useful both during the summer and winter months, and they consume far less energy compared to running your HVAC all the time! But if you have both your ceiling fans and your AC system on, it can lower your thermostat by about four degrees without any difference in comfort!
Upgrade Your Doors and Windows
Aside from installing skylights on your roof, consider switching to more energy-efficient doors and windows. If your doors and windows are old, some of them can have leaks around the caulking, which can lead to drafts and water leaks. The small gaps in between them can also allow warm or cool air to escape and force your HVAC system to work harder than needed.
Several new windows and doors are designed to improve your home’s energy efficiency. They’re cost-effective, especially if you’re looking to conserve as much energy as possible for years to come. Just make sure to get them from a trusted door and window contractor who’ll also take care of the installation process
Switch to More Energy-Efficient Lighting
Did you know that artificial lighting makes up about a third of your home’s monthly energy bill? If you want to improve your home’s energy efficiency, then this is one of the least expensive home upgrades you can do. It’s as simple as upgrading to ENERGY STAR®-rated light-emitting diode (LED) or compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) bulbs, and you can also make more use of natural lighting around your home. This means switching to larger windows, installing skylights and even adding sun tunnels on your roof that make full use of natural sunlight. This also reduces your dependency on artificial lighting during the daytime.
If you’re looking for a top-notch contractor in home improvement and roof repair, the Ganser Company has got you covered! Call us today at (608) 222-1243, or you can fill out our convenient online contact form. Talk to us today!