Owning a home is expensive. The additional costs associated can really influence the financial strain you feel. As a homeowner, saving on utility, especially electric bills is in your best interest. By reducing electricity usage in your home, you minimize out of pocket costs and contribute to reducing your home’s carbon footprint. You can cut down your home’s electric bill by following some of the suggestions provided in this article.
Install Solar
Solar panels can reduce your monthly bills and increase your properties value. Installing solar panels on your home is not only energy efficient, but it can also be a great tax break for you. You can save an average of 30% of the solar system cost with deductions and credits. Solar power systems also let you connect directly to the power you generate and control how much you use. For example, if your city has a blackout, you can keep energy flowing through your home with solar power. The cost of installing solar systems has significantly decreased, making the money and energy you save even more beneficial for current and future homeowners.
Add Insulation
The insulation in your home is crucial for keeping the interior regulated. When insulation fails to trap heat or block out cold, your home will overcompensate to achieve the desired temperature. This will lead to significantly pricey electricity bills. Adding insulation can save up to 10% on home heating and cooling costs. Various types of insulation have different performance levels, costs, and ease of installing. Choose insulation that has the right r-value or maximum thermal performance for your home. Quality insulation will help you save energy and protect your home from the extreme external temperatures.
Upgrade and Maintain Your HVAC
Your heating and air conditioning system operates on electricity. How much you use your HVAC system will impact your electric bill. As your HVAC system ages, it will be slower and work harder at maintaining the temperature in your home. This leads to an increase in your electric bill.
Your HVAC will need to be replaced between 10 and 20 years. A healthy HVAC system uses less energy to heat or cool your home. HVAC systems need regular maintenance to ensure they are functioning properly. Adding a programmable thermostat to your home will also help the system run more efficiently and on a better schedule.
Replace Your Windows
The development of home materials has come a long way. Today, windows are safer, filter light better, and provide better energy savings. Windows can be tinted without distorting your exterior vision. Tinting can cut your AC bills by blocking UV rays from entering through your windows. This will help keep your internal temperature more consistent throughout the day. If you notice the temperature in your home varies when near a window, consider replacing your windows with energy efficient ones.
Upgrade Appliances
As technology develops, appliances become more eco-friendly. The oven, refrigerator, washing machine, and dishwasher use a lot of energy. Older appliances use even more because they were not designed with energy efficiency in mind. Appliances that are Energy Star certified are environmentally friendly, cost less, function more efficiently, and lower your utility bills. Energy Star appliances must meet strict criteria outlined by the US Environmental Protection Agency. For example, qualified refrigerators must be at least 15% more efficient than the minimum federal efficiency standard. Choosing eco-friendly appliances will reduce your carbon footprint and save you long-term energy.
Choose Smart Lighting
Replacing old lighting fixtures with bulbs will help reduce the use of electricity in your home. Energy efficient light bulbs like compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) will make a big impact on the lighting and energy savings in your home. CFLs use up to 75% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs. They will also last up to 10 times longer and reduce energy costs. LED light bulbs are also more energy efficient and produce more light with the least amount of electricity. You can also set up lighting timers, dimmers, and sensors to help conserve the number of hours your lights are left on.
Siding Maintenance
The siding on your home is an important part of maintaining the structure’s integrity. A home’s exterior deteriorates over time and risks the integrity of insulation. Yearly maintenance is required to keep water damage, mold, leaks, and other problems from getting out of control. Changing the siding on a home dramatically improves the home appearance, increases home value, increases energy efficiency, and fixes structural problems before they get worse. Ultimately, new siding protects your home from weather damage and insulates it, keeping your home a more consistent temperature year-round.
Roof Replacement
A home’s roof puts up with a considerable amount of damage throughout the year as it protects the house from various weather factors. As a result, it slowly deteriorates over time. Most households are on a 10–20-year cycle of improving and possibly replacing their roof. Replacing your roof will not only reinforce the integrity of your home but increase energy efficiency. EPA estimates that replacing your roof’s insulation can lower the heating bill by an average of 10 percent. A well-sealed, well insulated roof helps keep the home’s interior temperature steady. A steady temperature is energy efficient and reduces electric bills. Depending on your roof materials and maintenance schedule, you may consider a roof replacement to help save energy costs.
There are a variety of steps you can take to reduce your home’s energy usage. Simple fixes like turning off lights and using smart devices to regulate the temperature will make a big impact. Depending on the health and maintenance needs of your home, there are improvements you can make that will drastically affect your electric bill and home’s value. As a homeowner, the best thing you can do is perform regular maintenance and replace items as they become old and outdated. These fixes will keep your home healthy and improve your quality of life. Cut down your electric bills by simply taking care of your home.
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