C.J. Braden • 3 Minute Read
How To Make Your Home More Energy Efficient
With everything going on in the world and changing weather patterns that are directly affected by ongoing climate change, it is time to reconsider the way you use energy in your home. Do your part for your pocketbook and the earth by making your home more energy efficient today. Keep reading for tips on how to effect change.
1- The Doors and Windows
New doors can help with energy efficiency
You have surely sat near a drafty door or window and wished you had a blanket at some point in your life. That moment was not only an uncomfortable experience but a lesson in how the air inside your home was escaping to the elements while making your home a less desirable temperature in the process. Essentially, you were heating the outside due to poorly built doors and windows.
Old doors can be upgraded to be more energy efficient
If you have these subpar elements in your home, it is time to upgrade to something better. This is especially true with patio doors. You will see the benefits when you update your current one to new energy-efficient patio doors. As this is a much larger area than a regular window or door, it requires a better degree of insulation to combat the elements. Lower-quality patio doors do not have what you need, but new ones do.
New patio doors and windows offer uninterrupted weather stripping in addition to interconnected features that reduce drafts. An additional benefit to new ones is a smoother-moving sliding door. This lessens the possibility of the door sticking or jumping off of the track.
2- The Appliances
Most modern kitchens are well-equipped with energy efficient appliances
Anytime you need or want to replace or upgrade your appliances, opt for Energy Star-certified models. Look for the Energy Star label on select appliances so you know you are buying the most energy-efficient model available. Energy Star is a government-backed effort to help consumers identify appliances that will save them in both energy usage and their monthly utility bills.
Modern appliances help with energy and look great
Always look at the yellow Energy Guide label that is part of the Energy Star label packaging. This will give you information about estimated energy use under standard conditions. Use it to compare with other models to decide what is best for you.
If you love this article, we know you’ll love this one too: Impact Resistant Window Buying Guide
3- The Structure
Solar energy can be a great investment
Of course, anytime you are planning to build your home, it will pay off in dividends to take advantage of the latest best practices in energy-efficient building. While there will be a significant up-front expenditure to implement efficient technology, evidence shows that it will last longer and lower your monthly utility bills significantly.
Energy efficient structures should be a big focus in new builds
For example, it will take approximately eight years to recoup your investment in home solar panels. If you plan on staying in the house for the long term, this is a viable investment. On a 30-year mortgage, after 8 years you will have 22 years of running the solar panels and gaining the benefits free and clear from your initial investment. While you are considering which items to add to a build or renovation, always do the math on the prospective cost-benefit analysis to determine the financial viability.
Watch this video for tips on how to build an energy-efficient home with new construction innovations.
Making upgrades, additions, renovations, or a whole new home all equates to new opportunities to innovate toward an energy-efficient living space. When you make changes now, you will reap the benefits for years to come.
C.J. (Carolyn) Braden is a regular contributor and editor for Carolyn’s Blooming Creations. She has been featured in numerous media publications such as InStyle Magazine, on HGTV, on Bustle.com, and more. She is the author of the books Georgia McMasters in Amethyst Lake Cemetery, How To Be Yourself: 3 Ways To Help You Being You, and the illustrator for the children’s book Bridging Connections. She is a former classroom teacher that now dedicates her life to educating others on how to live their most healthy, creative and happy life. Learn more about her visiting our About Us page.
This is a collaborative post and may contain affiliate links. All opinions and ideas expressed in this post, however, are based on my personal point of view.