Start Right with an Energy Audit
To exactly know where your home stands when it comes to energy efficiency and get specifics on which area of your house and property needs concentration, an energy audit conducted by a professional would serve as a great start. In some cases, you can avail of this professional service from your energy provider for free. If not, then calling on a qualified contractor to do the energy audit would surely prove to be worth the investment.
Maximize Heating and Cooling
About 50 to 70% of the energy consumption of an average American home is accounted to heating and cooling. And fact is, the entire amount reflected into your energy bill is not what you have entirely used as a good fraction of this goes to waste. Without you knowing, leaks are lurking at places they shouldn’t be and silently wasting precious resources that are not only costing you financially but is also preying on indoor comfort and affecting the quality of living you afford your family. To deal with this and maximize heating and cooling, here are 2 green home improvements to undertake:
A tightly sealed home ensures that what is needed inside is kept inside and what is not, outside. Plugging every possible source of air leak will maximize the heating and cooling effort of your HVAC system. When essential elements escape while the outdoor air seeps into the house through holes and gaps, your HVAC system is unnecessarily overworked thus energy costs shoot up. There are several areas that leaks are more common especially around the gaps of your windows and doors, attic, basement and more. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency roughly estimates that a fifth of the hot or cold air that ducts carry to various parts of your home does not end up where they should be due to leaks along the way. To get rid of the headache, fill these up with sealants.
A well insulated home is not only an energy efficient home but one that is comfortable all year-round. Before getting on with the work, consider having a qualified contractor do the job for you for an efficient and fast turn around. An evaluation will be done first to know whether the insulation in your exterior and basement walls, attic, floors, ceilings, and crawl spaces meet the DOE recommended R-value for your area. Then you and your hired contractor can discuss the methods and materials suitable to use for your budget and home.
Energy Efficient Products
There are a lot of products that you can replace and add in your green home improvements to achieve better energy efficiency such as HVAC systems, lighting, programmable thermostat, water heater and a whole lot more. Other than the long-term savings on your energy bills, certain products can also qualify you for federal tax credits. So be on the look out for the Energy Star label.
