As soon as winter comes along, most of us throw caution to the wind, crank up the boilers without so much as an afterthought about what the next month’s utility bill will look like. When the next month’s bill arrives, most of us open the utility bill with one eye shut, hoping that it will soften the blow, but it never does.
When it is cold, no one wants to be left in that position, but there are not many people who can sustain high utility bills. Luckily, there is plenty you can do to make your home more energy-efficient.
Insulation
Insulating all your walls is a great place to start making your home more efficient. Your heating system might be working overtime because the heat that you generate keeps on escaping. If you live in an old home, then you can be sure that the heat might be escaping out the attic.
The boards and insulation that there was might have taken a beating over the years. When the contractors come to insulate your walls, be sure to ask them to sweep all the walls with an infrared camera. These toys will pick up all the leaks and holes in the insulation armour and you will start saving money on heating in no time.
Replace the old furnace
One of the first things that you need to do to make your home more energy efficient is to replace your old furnace. Heating technology keeps evolving and becoming more efficient, but people are too comfortable with the way things are.
The only problem is that you are burning your money away by not switching to a modern condensing furnace. It might cost a bit of money to replace, but the return on investment is worth it.
Service the HVAC
Like with anything else in life, an HVAC system needs to be maintained. Everything tends to disorder and when left alone, it will perish or break. An HVAC system is no different and the main thing that hinders one to work well is clogged ducts.
When the ducts are clogged, the HVAC needs to work harder to achieve the same results. This is an easy fix and does not even have to cost you any money. To take things to the next level, install a programmable thermostat for that peace of mind and extra control.
Replace the lights
Many people fail to realize that the lighting in their homes is responsible for around 25-30% of the utility bill. When there are still incandescent bulbs hanging around, do yourself and your wallet a favor and replace them with LED and CFL bulbs.
Where a normal incandescent bulb burns at 60 watts, one can get the equivalent lumens from a three to five-watt LED bulb. Compact fluorescent lamps also use less than one-third of their outdated incandescent predecessor. Doing all the lights in one go can cost a pretty penny, so replace your lights in stages to keep it doable.
Utilize the sun
Solar energy is as good as it is going to get at the moment. The technology has developed tremendously and a simple system can be installed that will not break the bank. The great thing about solar energy solutions is that it is so diverse.
From climbing off the grid completely to hybrid systems that give you a bit of a cushion, there is a solution for everyone. Once the panels are installed, you can start reaping the rewards of free energy. As long as there is a sun that shines, you will have energy in the house.
Be practical
Most people are blissfully unaware of their bad energy-efficient usage habits. By tweaking your habits and making a conscious decision to do things better, one can save plenty of money. For starters, those chargers that are plugged in all the time are wasting energy.
Get into the habit of switching off the unused plugs in the house and switch off any unnecessary lights. When there is washing to be done, avoid setting the machine to a hot wash as 90% of the washing machines running costs go towards heating the water.
