Not too long ago in our country's history, talking about making your house "greener" might get you labeled a hippie or a tree-hugger. But times change, and as gas, electricity, and water prices creep up, more and more homeowners see the (substantial) advantages that come with considering the environment when you make decisions about your household.
Are you interested in making your home more energy-efficient -- and saving money in the bargain? You have many options, from cheap to expensive, so read on to discover whether there are some big (or small) energy-saving opportunities that you're missing.
1. Get an energy audit
Most utility companies offer an energy audit:
They'll send an expert out to your house to look at all your appliances, lights, windows, doors, and more -- then make recommendations for changes you can make that will save energy (and money) every month.
Suppose you want a personalized rundown of everything you could do to and for your house to make it more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly. In that case, an energy audit is a must.
2. Swap out your light bulbs
Compact fluorescent or even LED bulbs are more expensive than incandescent bulbs. Still, they also last at least ten times longer than incandescent and use only about 25% of an incandescent bulb's energy.
As your incandescent light bulbs flicker out, consider replacing them with a greener alternative. And if you decide to swap them all out at once, you'll start seeing a difference pretty quickly in your utility bills!
3. Pay attention to the sun
There's a lot you can do to heat and cool your home without spending any money at all -- but you'll need to keep tabs on where the sun is in the sky.
- In the northern hemisphere, windows with southern exposure will get the most direct sunlight, starting with those.
- Make a note when the sun shines into your home across every season, then adjust your habits (and your blinds) accordingly.
- For example, if the sun is shining directly into your house during the winter season, then you might be able to save some money on your heating bill by opening up all your curtains and blinds in the morning to allow the sun. But if you're getting that direct sunlight in the dead heat of summer, then the opposite applies: Close your blinds and curtains in the morning to keep your house cool.
4. Weather-stripping your windows
Especially in some older houses, sometimes windows might not be entirely airtight -- meaning that you've got drafts from the outside sneaking hot or cold air into your home against your wishes.
A relatively cheap and easy fix is weatherstripping your windows to eliminate those drafts and ensure that what's outside doesn't creep inside and vice versa. It's as simple as a trip to a hardware store and a few minutes to weatherstrip each window back at the house.
5. Turn down your water heater
Hot water feels amazing in the shower ... but here's the thing: Your water heater is constantly working to keep its water consistently hot, and if you've got the gauge set at a high temperature, then "consistently hot" takes a lot of energy to maintain.
- Take a look at your water heater's settings and ask yourself if the hot water needs to be as hot as you have it.
- Turning down the temperature to ten or even five degrees can result in some surprising savings -- and you might not even notice when you're mixing that hot water with cold for your ablutions!
6. Collect rainwater
Depending on where you live, the weather might be an asset you haven't tapped yet. The weather might be an asset -- You can use rainwater by keeping a cistern of rainwater in your yard, and then you'll always have a green way to water your grass and flowers in the spring and summer.
7. Swap out your shower heads
If you like to take long showers, this fix can be beneficial: Change your current shower head for a low-flow version that uses less water. These often have several settings for pressure and spray so that you can customize your shower experience -- and you probably won't even notice that you're using significantly less water once you make the change.
8. Buy a more intelligent thermostat
You don't necessarily need a "smart" thermostat for your home (although it's always nice to change the temperature using a phone app from the couch -- just saying!). Still, if you don't have a thermostat to adjust to change the temperature at different times of the day, you should invest in one.
For example, you could set your thermostat to lower the house's temperature by 10 to 15 degrees when you're at work during the day and instruct it to start bringing the weather back up to "normal" an hour to 30 minutes before you arrive home. Many thermostats even let you designate temperature by days of the week, so if you know that you're seldom home on Saturday night or Sunday morning, you can adjust your temperature accordingly.
9. Air-seal (and maybe insulate) your attic and basement
You may know that heat rises, which applies as much inside your house as it does in the world outside.
That means a drafty attic could result in a lot of energy spent keeping the house warm in the wintertime, and it won't do you any favors in the summer, either. An non insulated basement can also let in cold air in the wintertime and out in the summertime. Check to see if your basement and attic are air-sealed and insulated. If not, consider investing in an upgrade.
10. Use a manual push mower
If you live in a region where grass grows like weeds, and you don't need water, then maybe it makes perfect sense to keep your lawn ... but you'll still need to mow it regularly. One greener alternative to a riding mower or a motorized push version is an old-fashioned manual push mower. They do work, but you'll be using your elbow grease instead of gasoline to power the blades, so you'll get a workout while you mow.
Deciding to make your home more energy-efficient can involve a simple move like turning off water to rarely used sinks and toilets, or as complicated and involved as replacing appliances and installing solar panels. Figure out your ideal level of investment and take things one step at a time -- before you know it, you'll have a green home that saves money without sacrificing comfort.
Ready to purchase or sell your waterfront vacation home? Contact us:
Ellis Realty Group | Robert 361-739-7219 | Sara 361-534-0168 | Naomi 361-793-1851