[dropcap style=”font-size:100px; color:#992211;”]N[/dropcap]o matter what the season is, remember that an energy efficient home can ensure that you remain comfortable while you save money and preserve the resources of the earth.
Did you know that the average household will spend around $2100 just on home energy in a year? However, if you take a few precautions, with the tips listed in this article, you will be able to save money on your energy costs while also reducing your carbon footprint.
Compare Prices
If you happen to live in a place where energy providers are not regulated, such as Alberta, you may have the option to choose your energy provider. This means that you can get the plan that will suit your needs and your budget best. There is even a website you can visit to learn more about this. This is a great way to improve your energy costs while making you more conscious of what the real cost of your energy is.
Doors
You might not be aware of this, but they actually make doors that are energy efficient. This is a great way to increase your energy efficiency while maintaining a sense of style in your home. These doors come in a variety of styles and the differences extend to what makes them more eco – friendly. Some of these doors are made using chemicals that happen to be much better for the planet. Other types are made from either materials that can be or have been recycled, like PVC. These recyclable doors can ease your mind if you have ever worried about landfills being filled up with doors.
Air Leaks
You might already be happy with the style of your home even as you yearn to be more energy efficient. If this sounds about right, you can rest assured that there are still things that you can do to increase your energy efficiency without compromising the looks of your home. You can start with air leakage. Any door that leads from the outside, or even from the garage into your home can be a place where air can leak from your home. This can be alleviated by installing a door sweep. This will prevent the conditioned air inside your home from getting out while also keeping the outside air from coming inside. This will ensure that your living space remains comfortable while your energy bills remain low.
A/C Unit
When you are getting ready to invest in new equipment to heat and cool your home, making sure that you are getting the right size and that it is being installed correctly can be critical to making sure that your home remains both comfortable and energy efficient. You need to remember that bigger doesn’t always mean that it is better. Equipment that is too large can reduce your level of comfort while adding to the noise level. Also, improperly sized equipment can shorten the overall life of that equipment because of it turning on and off more frequently than it would if it was the right size. Equipment that is too small can be not as efficient as it needs to be and will lead to there being accelerated wear on the components of the system. This can lead to the equipment failing prematurely.
Porch Light
Most people wouldn’t think about their porch light when it comes to energy efficiency. That being said, this is one of the most frequently used light fixtures and as such, it is the ideal place for you to use lighting products that are Energy Star certified. You can replace your old fashioned incandescent light bulbs with the CFLs (compact fluorescent light bulbs) that will fit your existing porch light fixture. You might also decide to upgrade to an outdoor lighting fixture that is Energy Star certified and that will use the CFL technology that is advanced as well as a motion detecting photocell so that it will only turn on in the dark when motion has been detected as opposed to being on all night long. This can save you money on your energy bills while also bringing a bit more style to your porch.
If you want to know more about saving energy in your home, check out this Energy Saver Guide today.
