{"id":8836,"date":"2018-05-29T15:57:31","date_gmt":"2018-05-29T21:57:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.virtuance.com\/?p=8836"},"modified":"2018-05-29T15:57:31","modified_gmt":"2018-05-29T21:57:31","slug":"make-your-home-energy-efficient","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging.virtuance.com\/member\/blog\/make-your-home-energy-efficient\/","title":{"rendered":"How to make your home energy efficient"},"content":{"rendered":"

Reduce your carbon footprint and increase your savings with these tips from the pros<\/h2>\n
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Photo by Virtuance<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By Barbara Eldredge | Source Curbed<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

In our eco-conscious (and money-conscious) age, there\u2019s really no excuse for wasting energy at home. There are dozens of extremely easy, small steps you can take right now to minimize your use of energy resources and cut back your bill from the utility company. In 2015, families and businesses who simply switched to more energy-efficient appliances shaved a combined\u00a0$34 billion<\/em>\u00a0off their utility bills.<\/p>\n

But there\u2019s more to energy-optimization than buying a new fridge. To find the most effective energy-saving tactics at all price points, Curbed checked in with Christina Kielich of the\u00a0U.S. Department of Energy<\/a>\u00a0(DOE) and certified home energy auditor\u00a0Erlend Kimmich<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201dThere are so many small changes people can make to improve the energy efficiency of their homes, but it all adds up to significantly lower energy bills and a smaller environmental footprint,\u201d Kielich says.<\/p>\n

Replace your light bulbs<\/h3>\n

The typical American household spends 5 to 10 percent of its energy budget on lighting alone, according to the DOE. Incandescent light bulbs might give off a nice homey glow, but only 5 percent of their energy consumption is actually converted into light. Today\u2019s LEDs, on the other hand, are on average 85 percent more efficient than incandescents.<\/p>\n

Swapping your incandescents with\u00a0warm-colored LED bulbs<\/a>\u00a0can save you $100 a year on energy costs.\u00a0According to the DOE<\/a>, \u201cLEDs are projected to reach over 80 percent of all lighting sales by 2030…This would save Americans $26 billion per year in electricity costs, while cutting America\u2019s lighting electricity use by nearly half.\u201d<\/p>\n

Unplug energy vampires<\/h3>\n

Did you know that even after it\u2019s fully charged, leaving your cell phone plugged in continues to pull power from the grid? Same with your laptop, TV, stereo, game console, and any other electronic device. These unused-but-plugged-in devices draw unnecessary energy that adds up over time.<\/p>\n

Get in the habit of unplugging chargers once a device is fully powered-up, and plug your non-battery-powered electronics into power strips that you can turn off when not in use.<\/p>\n

Close your windows<\/h3>\n

You\u2019d think this one would be a no-brainer, but Kimmich says, \u201cYou\u2019d be surprised how often people complain about drafts and heat leakages in the winter and you visit and there\u2019s open windows\u2014cords for Christmas lights running out the window or bad seals. In summer, if the accordion wings around the AC don\u2019t fit properly, you might as well put it in the driveway. You\u2019re cooling the outdoors.\u201d<\/p>\n

Something as simple as\u00a0adding weather stripping<\/a>\u00a0to doors and windows is a relatively inexpensive way to retain your home\u2019s internal temperature, often paying for itself in energy savings within a year.<\/p>\n

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Photo by Virtuance<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Install an automatic thermostat<\/h3>\n

You can save as much as 10 percent on your annual heating and cooling costs by dialing back your thermostat 7 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit from its normal setting for eight hours a day. Especially if you live in extremely hot or cold climates, installing an automatic thermostat can make a huge difference when it comes to cutting energy use without sacrificing comfort.<\/p>\n

Automatic thermostats can cost\u00a0as little $18<\/a>. Higher-end smart thermostats like the\u00a0Nest<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0Ecobee<\/a>\u00a0can even learn your preferences and behaviors, automatically turning off your system when you\u2019re out of the house or away on vacation.<\/p>\n

Air seal your attic and basement<\/h3>\n

\u201dIf someone\u2019s looking to make a more substantial investment, I would recommend\u00a0air sealing\u00a0<\/a>and insulating the top and the bottom of the building,\u201d Kimmich says. \u201cEspecially if the house was built before World War II, that\u2019s where you tend to find the most leakage.\u201d<\/p>\n

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