From Guest Blogger Eileen O’Shanassay: Seven Strategies Homeowners Can Use to Reduce Utility Bills
One of the greatest perks of owning a home is the fun technological renovations you get to make to it, which can help make your home more modern, cozy, and comfortable while also creating substantial savings on your energy bills. In fact, reports show that your home’s utilities can be a huge chunk of your monthly expenses, which makes incorporating various strategies to reduce your utility bills a worthwhile cause.
There are various ways to reduce your home’s utility bills; however, some of the most popular strategies include:
1. Invest in a Smart Thermostat
Smart thermostats provide homeowners with more control over their home’s climate by learning their preferences and schedule and then automatically adjusting the temperature accordingly as opposed to simply allowing your heater or AC to run consistently throughout the day, even when you are away, which can increase your energy bills. They also allow you to control your home’s climate remotely via Wi-Fi, so you can adjust your home’s temperature while you are away, get emailed alerts concerning dropping or rising temperatures, and more.
2. Install a Solar Panel System
Solar panels operate by transforming the sun’s energy into an electrical current, which can be used to power your home and save you money over more costly sources of electricity. Simply select a solar panel system that is suitable for your home and then have it professionally installed, or you can install it yourself.
3. Switch to an Alternative Fuel Choice
There are many alternative sources for heating your home, including under-floor heating, geothermal heat pumps, masonry heaters, solar heat, and more, which are far cheaper and better for the environment than more expensive fossil fuel. So be sure to look into these alternative sources when heating your home in order to realize increased savings.
4. Install Energy-Efficient Skylights
A building with a good amount of natural light will benefit from solar energy, thereby decreasing the need for electric lights, which means that installing skylights throughout your home can significantly reduce your home’s emissions and energy consumption. An abundance of natural light also helps create an enjoyable environment for gatherings. Just be sure your skylights are energy efficient in order to avoid cooling and heating loss.
5. Install Energy Efficient Lighting
There are various lighting sources to help save you money, including CFL, LED, and halogen incandescent fixtures, and they can also be installed in your exterior landscape lighting for even further savings. The key is to select Energy Star qualified fixtures. You should also be sure that the fixtures you select are compatible with the type of energy efficient bulbs you want to use. You can also install dimmers, timers, or other controls, which will allow you to save electricity when they are not in use.
6. Upgrade to Energy Star Certified Appliances
Energy Star certified appliances are specifically designed for energy efficiency, which when installed in your kitchen and throughout your home, can save you money on your energy bills. They are also available in many modern styles to suit any decor.
7. Seal and Insulate the Windows
Drafts around your windows and doors can increase your energy bills by up to 25% or more. Therefore, the first step in reducing your home’s utility bills is sealing and insulating windows to help keep cold air out during the winter and vice versa, which can help keep your home cozy and your energy bills low year round.
A recent study on the efficacy of solar panels concluded that the absolute best way to affect total energy spending when running the heater was by sealing and insulating windows. This can be done in a variety of ways. Sealing and insulating your windows and doors can be done simply by applying weatherstrips around any gaps, or you can use foam tape to seal out drafts. You can also replace your worn sweeps with new sweeps to help seal out more air.
Overall, saving on your utility bills doesn’t have to be boring. In fact, it can be quite fun, innovative, and adventurous, knowing you are taking the necessary steps to help keep your home cozy and your energy bills low, not to mention the cool new gadgets you’ll get to play with. If you are at a loss for ways to upgrade your home to a more energy-efficient living space, which can also help increase the value of your home, simply begin with sealing and insulating the windows and doors to seal out air, and then incorporate the other upgrades and strategies listed to realize a difference in your home’s efficiency.
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