Energy Conservation: Easy Ways to Save Money on your Home
Many of the steps you take to save energy not only save you money but increase the resale value of your home and help ensure that you will leave the planet a better place for your children and grandchildren. While some major energy-saving projects such as installing solar panels on your roof are a substantial, long-term investment, others require only a few dollars of materials and a weekend afternoon to finish.
Energy Audit
Before you save energy, you need to figure out where your home is losing energy. Contact your local utility to see if they offer free energy audits. Alternatively, the United States Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy offers a full step-by-step guide to do-it-yourself energy audits. Once you know where your home is leaking energy, you can start conserving.
Caulk Is the King
Caulk dries out, cracks, and becomes less effective over the years. Think of the gaps you will be filling as gaps through which money is flowing out of your bank account.
A reusable caulk gun and some caulk cost under ten dollars and can save you hundreds in energy bills. Set a fixed time every year to go around your house checking and replacing, if needed, the caulk around your doors, windows, and vents.
Windows
Windows let light in and, unfortunately, energy out unless you take some steps to prevent energy losses. The simplest and cheapest step is checking the window frames and making sure any cracks are sealed with caulk or weatherstripping. For older homes, replacing single with double or even triple pane glass can be a good investment, increasing your home’s energy efficiency and resale value. A less expensive but still effective solution is adding reflecting or insulating window films to existing glass. Finally, window treatments such as insulating drapes can be a major energy saver. It may benefit you to contact a company like RWC for help choosing windows.
Doors
Poorly insulated doors and cracks around doors are major sources of energy loss for most homes. Adding weather stripping is a simple, inexpensive fix. In harsh winter climates, if you still feel cold air sneaking into your home at the bottom of the door, invest a few dollars in an insulated door snake or even just roll up an old bath towel for a do-it-yourself version. For older homes, replacing an old, poorly insulated front door with a newer one not only saves energy but will pay back its cost in increasing your home’s value.
Bathrooms
An NJ bathroom renovation is not just about aesthetics but also about safety and energy conservation. Any place where piping or electrical outlets go through your walls, energy can leak out. Save money by insulating around pipes and outlets. For even larger energy savings, consider installing a more efficient hot water heater, a solar heater, or looking into a tankless water heater, something the Department of Energy recommends for homes that use moderate amounts of hot water. Low-flow showerheads and water-efficient toilets will also reduce energy bills. If your faucets drip, that is literally money down the drain and replacing them with newer, more stylish versions not only makes your bathroom more attractive but also saves money.
