There are a number of reasons to look at the amount of energy your home is using. And while it’s the right thing to do for the environment, it also feels pretty good in the wallet. Here are a couple of quick things you can do to improve your home’s energy efficiency no matter what your budget.
Energy Efficiency Steps on $100 or less
- Replace all (or at least your most used) light bulbs with ENERGY STAR certified ones. An ENERGY STAR certified lightbulb uses 70-90% less energy and lasts 10-25 times longer. They will cost more upfront than regular lightbulbs but in the long run will save you money by lowering your bill and not having to replace them as often.
- Buy a programmable thermostat and cool or heat your home to comfort only when you’re home or awake to enjoy it.
- Have your A/C or heater checked by a professional for inefficiencies. These could entail incorrect fluid levels, poorly attached or dirty ducts, or clogged filters (which you can check and maintain for yourself). The average homeowner spends $875 a year just heating and cooling the home. Ensuring your system is running at peak performance will save you money and future headache.
Energy Efficiency Steps on $500
- While costs can vary widely on materials (both type and amount needed) and labor, do-it-yourselfers can insulate their attics for about $500. Ensuring your home is well insulated means the difference between you enjoying all of that blissfully cool (or warm, depending on the season) air and it going out into the rest of your neighborhood.
- You can tackle your windows and doors, making sure they are well caulked, sealed and insulated.
Energy Efficiency Steps on $2,000 or Less
- If your appliances are older consider replacing them. A $2000 budget won’t allow you to purchase all new but upgrading the oldest, or the one you use most frequently, is a wise decision. All things created equally, switching out your older fridge to a newer energy efficient model or installing an ENERGY STAR certified heat pump water heater will probably show the average homeowner the most savings.
Energy Efficiency for $5,000 or less
- If your air conditioning unit is older than ten years old, consider an upgrade. Today’s units run more efficiently, and depending on usage and climate, many of these systems can save you over $115 a year. We can help you find the A/C system that best suits your needs and home.
The professionals at Easy A/C don’t believe you need to give up comfort to become more energy efficient. There are a variety of things you can do to improve your home’s efficiency, no matter what your budget.
If you’re on a budget or saving money is important to you, check out our EZ Breezy Club. At Easy A/C, we’re comfort made easy and we bet you’re going to love that. Find out more today.