Energy Saving Home Improvements
The idea of saving money by making energy efficient home improvements is nothing new, but what is new is the amount of money you can save. This is especially true now that energy prices are spiraling upwards. When you combine this increased ability for saving money on your energy costs with the tax credits and grants you can get from government incentives you have the perfect motivation for anyone to make energy efficient home improvements.
SO WHERE DO YOU START?
With simple and low cost methods.
The first place to start saving energy should always be with something simple or a basic improvement. This is because the whole point is to save money and not throw it away. It is fairly easy to spend more money than necessary for any home improvement let alone when you are trying to save energy at the same time. Therefore it is important to know how much you can spend versus how much you can save and how quickly you could recover your costs. This should be obvious but this first step is often missed.
As you think through the different ideas for saving energy listed below, don’t get stuck thinking about the initial expense or labor involved. This is because in the long run the benefits will always exceed the initial cost and effort. When you look at these improvements from the end perspective, the expenses and tasks can become enjoyable. Plus you know that saving energy is helping our planets environment.
- Replace all incandescent bulbs with CFL’s (compact florescent lights) or LED’s
- Install water saving shower heads
- Replace computer power strips with Energy Saving Smart Power Strips
- Install programmable thermostats with winter settings no greater than 68 degrees and summer settings no less than 74 degrees
- Replace weather stripping on older doors and windows
- Caulk any cracks around windows, doors, siding, etc.
- In hotter climates, install curtains or shades on southern and western facing windows and close them during the afternoon until the sun sets
- In cooler climates, be sure to open southern and western facing shades or curtains during the day to allow the sun’s free energy in. Close them once the sun sets.
- Seal off unused windows and wall cavities in basements and attics
- Insulate hot water and heating pipes in your basement or any unconditioned space
- Replace filters twice annually in your forced air heating and air conditioning systems
- Turn off televisions when not being viewed
- Replace bathroom exhaust wall switches with 30 to 60 minute timer switches
- Wrap your water heater and/or boiler with an insulation blanket if it’s older than 10 years.
- Replace conventional dryer vent with a dryer vent seal
- Don’t run your clothes dryer on very cold nights or on extremely hot and humid afternoons
Some of these suggestions cost absolutely nothing all you have to do is change one of your habits. Most of them cost less than $100 each. But it is amazing how significant the saving is that they will bring throughout the year.
Now that you have taken care of the basic energy saving improvements, you can start thinking about and working towards some more expensive energy saving home improvements. Some of these are; increasing your home’s level of insulation, replacing doors and windows (this is bigger), upgrading your heating and cooling system (this is bigger yet).
Overall, you can significantly reduce your energy usage and significantly reduce your carbon footprint. You will also start enjoying a greener home, lifestyle and saving money with the energy saving changes you have made.
Saving Energy in the Kitchen: Your Appliances
The kitchen is the centre of most households. It’s where meals are prepared, eaten and enjoyed, and where much of the housework takes place. Of course this high level of activity tends to mean that a lot of energy is used to make things run smoothly in the kitchen. However like with anything else in the home, you can make your kitchen more energy efficient by becoming more aware of the way you’re using energy and by taking steps to reduce your levels of energy consumption.
The kitchen, with all its appliances, gadgets and heat, is a real hotspot for potential energy saving. Looking at your kitchen’s appliances, which all use varying levels of energy, is key when tackling energy efficiency in your kitchen. This includes the everyday items such as oven, fridge and freezer, which most of us rely on to cook and store food safely and effectively. It also means the more specialist electrical items like dishwashers, blenders and mixers etc. that help us get jobs in the kitchen done quickly and painlessly.
Luckily, there are a number of steps you can take to make your kitchen one of the most energy efficient zones in your home.
The Stove
As the stove uses the most energy and creates a vast amount of heat while cooking foods, it is a good place to start.
While gas is more energy-efficient than electric, gas stoves generate combustion by-products, while electric ones don’t. No matter which range you have, use a hood that vents to the outside. Also keep the burners clean as this will help you use less energy when you’re cooking.
On gas stoves, it’s important to notice the color of your flame. If it’s burning more yellow than blue, your gas is not burning efficiently and it needs serviced. If you need to purchase a gas oven or range, look for one with an automatic, electric ignition system. An electric ignition saves gas because a pilot light is not burning continuously.
Also check out the new induction cook tops. These work by using electricity to create a magnetic field to cause molecular movement in your cookware, meaning that the stovetop stays cool while the cookware itself heats up.
An Alternative
If you’re into casseroles, chunky soups and/or boiled meats it may alternatively be worth getting a slow cooker, also more energy-efficient than an oven or a stove top. And you have comforting, gorgeous-smelling food waiting for you when you get home.
The Refrigerator
The big energy culprit in the kitchen is the refrigerator. A great way to save power used by the refrigerator is to get a highly efficient refrigerator with a good efficiency number on the Energy Star Label. Over the last 20 years, the average refrigerator power usage dropped by over 50%. A highly efficient refrigerator can give you even greater saving.
Kitchens, as we see them today, have come a long way. Constant development in the field of science and technology has resulted into various sophisticated appliances that have become an indispensable part of the present day kitchen.
If you’re replacing the appliances in your kitchen, make the effort to look for appliances that are as energy-efficient as possible, especially when it comes to the cook top, oven, fridge and dishwasher. The best way to see if your appliances make the grade when it comes to energy efficiency is to check the number of stars that it is. You also need to choose appliances that are the right size. If your fridge or dishwasher is too large, they will use more energy, or water, than they need to.
A great way to approach making your kitchen more ecologically friendly is to start at one corner and work your way around the room in a clockwise direction. Look at each area of the kitchen to identify sources of excessive energy use or waste. Eliminate them one at a time, and, before you know it, you will have a greener kitchen.
So if you’re looking to make your home more green, your kitchen is a good place to start.