Simple Ways To Reduce Energy Consumption

If you’re like most people, you probably believe that you’re pretty good at saving energy within your home and that you only use what you need. You turn off lights when you’re not in the room and you try to avoid using your HVAC system as much as possible. But have you really tried everything you can to reduce your energy usage? However, before getting into the details about how to reduce energy consumption, it may be a better idea to start with why saving energy is important. Keep reading to learn more.

Cost Reduction

The first and most obvious reason that you’ll want to conserve energy in your home is because it will cost you less on your monthly energy bills. According to Move.org, the average consumer spends about seven percent of their income on energy bills. Nearly half of this money goes to heating and cooling and the bigger the home, the more this will increase.

Environmental Sustainability

Although electricity is a renewable resource, that doesn’t change the fact that power plants produce waste, and if you can reduce the amount of energy you’re using, you’ll inevitably be reducing waste. Reducing energy expenditure at home can make us a more energy and waste conscious society in general which will also reduce wastefulness in other areas.

Resale Value

There’s no doubt about it — if you’re planning on selling your home, it will be much more appealing to buyers if you’ve taken steps to increase its energy efficiency.

Tax Deductions

You will be able to claim the Residential Energy Efficiency Property Credit for wind, solar, and geothermal appliances in your home according to the U.S. Department of Energy. So, not only are you getting a more energy-efficient appliance, but you’re saving on taxes as well.

 

Now that we’ve established the main reasons for reducing energy consumption in your home, let’s take a look at some of the best ways to accomplish this.

Heating and Cooling

Since heating and cooling is the biggest culprit when it comes to high energy bills, it’s only natural to start here when trying to improve the energy efficiency of your home. Up to half of the energy expenditures in our home are related to heating and cooling and it should be the goal of every homeowner to find ways to reduce this, especially those with large homes.

 

Ceiling fans

Ceiling fans are a great way to reduce energy consumption while reducing the stuffiness that can make hot rooms so unbearable. You can also try opening the windows and let some fresh air in as well. It’s tempting to think that heat is always the cause of a room being “uncomfortable,” however, circulation has a lot to do with it. Opening windows and having a fan on low will get the air moving and you’ll feel a lot more comfortable.

Replace air filters

Often times, one of the biggest culprits of high energy bills is an inefficient heating and cooling system. Your air filters are an important part of this efficiency because the air within your home is constantly being circulated through it. If you’re using an air filter that’s not ideal for your home or that’s too dirty, you will be wasting energy.

Programmable Thermostat

Programmable thermostats are a small investment for the enormous amount of money you’ll save in the long run on heating and cooling bills. Programmable thermostats allow you to set your HVAC system to automatically turn up or down based on whether you’re home or away. This is very useful for people with predictable work hours and can be adjusted easily if your schedule happens to change.

Use your fireplace

Far too many homeowners don’t use their fireplace, however, this is a great way to reduce energy consumption and costs far less than having your furnace running full blast all winter.

Close the curtains

If it’s cold outside, drawing your curtains is a great way to provide a little extra insulation at night especially if you don’t have double pane windows.

Contact Safe Investment Home Inspection

These are just a few of the many ways you can increase energy efficiency in your home. Improving energy efficiency is an important part of being a homeowner because it saves you money and a lot of hassle. However, it’s not the only thing you’ll have to worry about as a homeowner. At Safe Investment Home Inspection, we complete 500 point inspections of your home so that you can see exactly what’s going on in your home and what can be improved. Our master inspectors will provide you with the security and assurance you need to live comfortably in your own home, all while saving you time and money. Contact us today to learn more.