The 21st century has indeed brought a series of innovative marvels for humanity, one of which is sustainability and efficiency. Due to this concept, the virtue of energy efficiency has emerged as a core feature of modern houses.
With every waking moment, we are blessed with new and improved energy-conserving resources, each allowing us to reduce our carbon footprint and go green. What’s more, in the present day and age, people are more inclined towards “smartness.” They want to invest their efforts in saving not only the environment but also some money in the long run.
The best part about being energy-efficient is that there’s no shortage of ways and techniques. Are you interested in learning how?
Here are some practical ways to boost and transform your home into a green and efficient one. From minor lifestyle changes to heavy-duty upgrades, each of these techniques will allow you to participate in creating a more sustainable tomorrow for yourself and the world.
Let’s begin.
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Go smart by installing energy-efficient windows
Installing energy-efficient windows is one of the best ways to minimize energy consumption and go green. The features of energy efficient windows consist of high-end technologies such as multiple panes, insulating gas fills, and low-E coatings, which greatly block heat transfer.
Additionally, these windows frequently have remarkable sound-insulating capabilities, which lower noise intrusion and foster a calm and quiet internal environment. These windows can be an excellent investment for any homeowner because of their capacity for energy conservation.
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Insulate your home
Ensuring your home’s insulation is on point is a viable way to boost efficiency. If your home doesn’t have adequate insulation, you can lose a lot of heat during the chilly winter months. You might be paying for this, and the ecosystem might suffer.
The secret is ensuring your home is well insulated throughout, including weather stripping and other methods. Air leaks around floors, windows, attics, doors, basements, or crawl spaces should be caulked or foamed. You can take care of this yourself or hire professionals to do it for you.
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Hang your laundry to dry
Laundry is one such area where you can save resources. When you change into different clothes for school or work daily, you may have to cut back on one or two loads of laundry every week if you wear the same pair of pants. Anytime you can hang dry your clothing on an indoor drying rack or an outdoor clothesline, you’ll conserve energy and save money and the environment.
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Get a thermostat
Did you know that installing a nice and smart little thermostat can help you reduce your cooling and heating costs? It operates by recognizing your routines and automatically alters the temperature. For instance, if you typically lower the temperature before bed at 9 p.m., a smart thermostat will begin doing so automatically.
Whether at home or not, you can operate a smart thermostat through an app. So, even if your schedule changes at the last minute, you can still monitor your heating and cooling expenses. Lighting automation can also help you save money. Install motion sensors and dimmer switches for the lights so they turn off when you exit the room.
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Plant trees
It may take some time to pay off, but strategically placed trees can save your home’s energy consumption by up to 25% annually. (Aside from their amazing abilities to absorb carbon.)
To protect your walls and windows from the sweltering summer sun and to reduce the temperature around your home, you might, for instance, plant evergreen shade trees on the west and south sides of your house. Dense evergreen trees or bushes placed on the north edge of your lot can block nippy winter winds and lower heating expenses. And once their leaves tumble, warmer winter sunlight can still enter.
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Upgrade your HVAC system
An annual tune-up guarantees that your air conditioner and furnace operate as efficiently as possible, saving you money monthly. House heating and cooling check-up increases efficiency by ensuring that connections are tightened, parts are properly greased, and coils are cleaned. Additionally, tuning your HVAC system might prevent replacing your furnace, which can be expensive.
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Switch to LED light bulbs
Another excellent way to upgrade your home’s green code is to purchase a set of LED light bulbs. Compared to CFL lights from the past, LED bulbs are around seven times more efficient and typically last much longer. They also don’t require “warming up” before they reach their maximum brightness.
If your lights are typically on for four hours each day, replacing just four 60-watt incandescent light bulbs with their LED counterparts might result in a yearly energy savings of roughly 300 kWh, or about $66 in New England or California. We advise purchasing warm or soft white bulbs rather than daylight or cold white ones because they give off a more sterile, department store-like vibe.
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Go for energy-efficient appliances
Look for appliances with the HE emblem (green) while looking for new ones to help your home become more energy-efficient. Energy-start certified appliances are a great choice because they are known for consuming less energy. While these appliances have a hefty initial cost, they can help you save money in the long run.
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Invest in solar panels
Solar panels are an excellent investment if you have the money for them. Believe it or not, they are capable of helping you lower your electricity expenses by enabling you to generate electricity. But for this, you may have them put on your rooftop.
This task should be easily manageable, especially considering how affordable they are. Although installing solar panels in your home isn’t for everyone, you will notice many more individuals doing it as the green movement gains momentum.
Conclusion
Nowadays, homeowners can utilize various methods to improve their homes’ energy efficiency, lessen their carbon impact, and lower energy costs. These methods range from straightforward and affordable adjustments to more involved and expensive modifications. Still, all have the potential to affect energy usage and efficiency significantly. Homeowners can lessen their environmental impact and long-term costs by implementing these measures.
