In the current economy, many people are looking for different ways to make some savings. One way you can make savings at home is by maximizing your home energy efficiency in winter. Below are five effective ways in which you can do this, so have a look at them and implement those you can to start improving the health of your finances.
Seal Cracks in Windows and Doors
The most energy used in winter goes towards keeping the house warm and toasty. You can therefore start your saving journey here by making sure that heat use in your home is efficient. Check all your doors and windows to make sure there are no gaps and cracks between the edges of the door and window frames and your walling. If there are any, seal them immediately with caulk so that you avoid losing treated air through those spaces. This is important because 38% of heat is lost through doors and windows in an average home, a percentage that rises to 50% if you have single-pane windows. If your budget allows and you have single-pane windows, you can also change them to double-pane ones, which will help keep your home better insulated.
Get Energy-Efficient Appliances
Since you will probably all be spending a lot of time indoors, it’s safe to assume that many of the appliances indoors will be used a lot. Prevent the excessive loss of energy through these windows by changing any old appliances you have with newer ones that have been made to be more energy efficient. Doing this will see you save an impressive amount of money during winter, especially if you get appliances with the best Energy Star rating possible.
Maintain Your HVAC
The HVAC system in many households runs through different seasons for long periods. It goes without saying that a properly-maintained HVAC system will run a lot more efficiently than one that’s not well-maintained. If the duration that’s suggested for performing maintenance has lapsed, make sure to do it now before it’s put under a lot of pressure. By properly maintaining your HVAC system and your home’s insulation, you can reduce your energy bill by 30%. If this sounds attractive to you, call in an HVAC technician immediately to give your system some maintenance.
Start Using LED Bulbs
The cold and dark in winter is offset by bulbs indoors, so you can imagine how much energy you stand to lose when you use regular light bulbs. Considering the lighting that you will put up as decoration for the holidays, you can save a good amount by changing the regular bulbs with energy-efficient LED ones. The cost you incur changing the bulb holders, if this is necessary in the first place, will be offset by the savings you make when you use these bulbs.
Modernize Your Home
The fifth energy-saving tip is to bring your home to current standards in terms of fittings, fixtures, and more. Besides the upgrades mentioned above of changing your windows to double-paned ones and using LED bulbs, there are many other things you can do to put your home in modern times and save some money while at it. Going by the fact that recent building codes have seen newly built homes become 17% more energy-efficient, you can put your home under these same standards by adopting the same codes at your own pace. Change the water heating systems and thermostats, for example, and you will be happy to experience energy savings.
To make sure your family and finances are both in good health this season, make the changes outlined above. You will find it easy to keep improving once you start, so don’t wait any longer!
