From Guest Blogger Emma Sturgis: Four Tips For Going Green With Your Home Energy Consumption

Making your home as eco-friendly as possible doesn’t need to be an expensive and time-consuming process. For many families, a few small upgrades will have a major impact on their energy consumption and monthly utility bills. Here is a look at four tips that you can use to improve your home’s efficiency and reduce your carbon footprint.

Update Your Lighting

Not only are LED bulbs extremely efficient, but they also last nearly 25 times longer than incandescent bulbs. Replacing all of your old CFL bulbs with LED bulbs could end up saving you hundreds of dollars a year, and it is one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce your home’s energy consumption. Modern LED bulbs are also a great option for those who live in a warmer climate. Even though they are just as bright as incandescent bulbs, they give off very little heat.

Add More Insulation

Very few homeowners realize just how often insulation needs to be replaced. Depending on the type of insulation you are using, you might have to replace it once every two or three years. You also need to spend some time patching pinholes and cracks every few months to prevent air leaks. Sealing openings around doors, windows, and vents will minimize heat transfer and make it easier to keep your home at a consistent temperature.

Switch to Solar Energy

Installing solar panels is a slightly more complicated project that should only be carried out by a certified electrical engineer, like those who have received an education similar to the programs offered at Ohio University online. Although they might be complicated to install, these devices almost always have an excellent return on investment. In some locations, residential solar panels produce so much energy that homeowners can actually sell electricity back to their utility companies. Having these devices installed on your roof or in your yard might also make you eligible for tax credits.

Eradicate Phantom Loads

A phantom load is any electrical device that continues to draw power even when it is not being used. Many families leave dozens of different devices plugged in without realizing it, and that will waste quite a bit of electricity over the course of a year. Some of the worst offenders including laptops, desktop PCs, phone chargers, DVD players, printers, and power tool chargers. If your home doesn’t have switches that manually cut the power to the outlets, then you should attach most of your electronics to power strips that can be turned off with a single button.

Before carrying out any of these projects, you might first want to schedule an energy audit for your home. During these audits, an inspector will look over every inch of your property to see where changes need to be made. These inspectors can provide you with a detailed list of eco-friendly updates that will make your home as efficient as possible.