Go green or go home. The green energy trend seems like it is here to stay, with more and more homeowners making the switch to energy-efficient practices, installations, and appliances, and for good reason. Energy-efficient home upgrades can reduce utility bills and increase home value, not to mention help preserve our planet’s natural resources and reduce the effects of climate change.
How to Make Your Home More Energy-Efficient
The first step in making your home more energy efficient is understanding your home energy consumption. Secondly, you can’t make an effective change without understanding where you are wasting energy. Check your home and appliances for energy-draining areas. Do you have single-paned windows, poorly insulated attics, outdated HVAC, or energy-sucking lightbulbs? Remedying these small issues is an important first step on the path to creating a more energy-efficient home. If these energy sinks aren’t solved, large infrastructure changes will not be as impactful.
Top Energy-Efficient Switches for a Green Home
Starting the switch to a green home can be overwhelming. Take a breath—no one can live completely green! But small changes can make a big difference, so doing what you can is better than doing nothing at all. Let’s take a look at some of the top energy-efficient switches that you can make in your home.
Smart Insulation and Windows for Lower Energy Bills
Your flimsy insulation could cost you hundreds of dollars and waste tons of energy. You can remedy this by bolstering or replacing your insulation in areas like attics, walls, and crawl spaces. This will balance your indoor temperature and lower your energy bills. Additionally, opting for a triple pane window, especially for colder climates, can reduce heat loss. In San Diego, homes under the airport flight path have even received triple pane windows for free to help reduce noise disturbance. Check into your city’s rebate programs to see if you qualify for free or reduced energy switches.
The Benefits of Solar Power and Renewable Energy
Solar panels can drastically reduce electricity costs and increase home value. Oftentimes, cities will offer solar tax credits and rebates for the installation of solar as an incentive toward adopting clean energy. Solar energy has become so advanced that you can have smart storage batteries that store energy based on your patterned energy usage with the ability to control your electricity from your phone! Solar energy is also beneficial for homeowners in areas that experience frequent blackouts. Solar energy and energy storage can ensure that you can continue living as usual.
Water Conservation Upgrades for a Greener Home
A lot of your home’s energy waste can be solved in the construction of the home. However, smaller swaps can save you a lot of money, water and energy. Replacing your faucets and showerheads with low-flow options can save water without sacrificing pressure. Additionally, opting for a tankless water heater can save space and reduce energy expenditure on water. Lastly, having an efficient irrigation system that uses recycled water and runs on a smart timetable can ensure that less water is wasted.
Smart Home Technology for Energy Savings
Simple smart home switches don’t just save energy, they also make your life easier. Automated lighting and motion sensors prevent lights from running unnecessarily and smart powerstrips reduce phantom energy drain.
Start Your Energy-Efficient Home Renovation Today
Hiring a professional contractor for your green home renovation is a great place to start. D and L Builders can offer you valuable insight into potential energy savings and rebates as well as bring a highly equipped crew to execute your renovation. Thinking about making your home more energy-efficient? Contact D&L Builders today for expert eco-friendly remodeling solutions that save you money while helping the planet.
