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5 Ways You Can Increase Your Home’s Energy Efficiency

Increase Your Home’s Energy Efficiency

Homes that are energy efficiency simply use less energy to do the same things. By making some small changes around the house, you can reduce your carbon footprint and save some money. This is good for your wallet and the planet.

Here are some easy ways you can increase your home’s energy efficiency.

1. Upgrade your attic insulation

Man installing thermal roof insulation layer

The insulation in your attic keeps the temperature in your home steady. In the winter, it prevents warm air from escaping through the ceiling, then damaging the attic with condensation. In the summer, it keeps all that hot air outside from creeping indoors. This reduces the amount of energy it takes to heat and cool the home.If the temperature in your home swings back and forth, or the insulation is old or damaged, consider having it replaced. Contact a specialist for insulation removal Mississauga or near you.

2. Fix drafts

Drafts are openings in the home’s exterior, which let the air out, wasting your money on heating and cooling. If you suspect that there are drafts in your windows and doors, close them, then hold a lit candle as you stand in front of them. If the flame flickers, there is a draft. Look for cracks in your frames and seal them with caulking. You can also add locks or weatherstripping to your windows to reduce air flow. Put weather stripping on the bottoms of your doors so there is no leakage there.

In the winter, put heavy drapes in your windows and put rugs on your floors to increase insulation. Floors may account for as much a 10% of the room’s heat loss.

3. Maintain the furnace

furnace repair

Because such a large portion of your energy bill is dedicated to heating and cooling, take the time to maintain your furnace. Change the filter every 6 months or so to prevent dust buildup, which makes it harder for your system to circulate the air.You should also have it serviced by a technician every year. A professional can clean and repair every part that you cannot service yourself, and warn you if the machine needs replacing.

4. Clean major appliances

Refrigerators, ovens, and other large appliances that require ventilation work harder when they are covered in dust. Check the vents on the backs of your appliances and clean them regularly so that air can flow. Making sure that your appliances are in good working condition will also prolong their lifetimes, saving on wasted electronics and appliances.

5. Automate the thermostat

Automating the thermostat

Why keep the house at a comfortable temperature when you’re not home? Depending on the season, you should increase or decrease the temperature in your home by a few degrees while you are away at work or gone on vacation. For ease of use, you can invest in a smart thermostat that you can automate yourself.

Other Tips to Save You Money

There are lots of ways you can use less energy and save money. Check out these easy tips you can start doing today.

1. Use large appliances on evenings and weekends

Energy-Efficient-Appliance

Most energy providers have peak hours in which they charge more for every kilowatt of power used.Evenings and weekends are usually the cheapest. Check your provider’s schedule and use energy-intensive appliances during off-peak hours. Dishwashers and laundry machines are known to use lots of energy, so you should use them when they cost less.

2. Skip the dryer

Skip the dryer and hang your clothes up outside, instead. Your clothes will dry nearly just as fast when it is hot and sunny outside. While useful, dryers use a lot of energy to heat up your clothes and spin. Use your dryer during off-peak hours, combine loads together, or skip it entirely and hang your clothes outside.

3. Use ceiling fans

Ceiling fan rotating

Heating and cooling may account for as much as 70% of your energy bills. If you can handle it, try upping the thermostat by one or two degrees in the summertime, and lowering it a little bit in the winter. Use fans in the summer to cool down. In the winter, bundle up just a bit more. Changing the temperature in accordance with the season can save you hundreds of dollars per year.

4. Automate electronics

There are power bars that you can program to turn off during certain hours of the day. This reduces the amount of phantom power that your electronics use. Gaming consoles, computers, and kitchen appliances continue to use power when they are turned “off,” which is known as phantom power. Investing in a few of these power bars will make your home more efficient and save you some money every month.

Article Submitted By Community Writer

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