Changes Around the House to Save on Your Energy Bill

Your energy bill, which covers everything from heating to lighting, is the biggest expense your house will have to pay every month. This is especially so if you have an older home. You can save a lot of money by making a few changes around the house so that energy savings are a priority.

Change Your Windows

One of the more interesting changes you can make is to replace your windows. While windows tend to last a long time unless something awful happens to them, there is a lot of energy potential lost through them. For one, they can have a negative on internal temperatures. Old and drafty windows make it difficult to keep heat during winter while letting cool air out during summer.

A more modern window would have better frames that avoid leaks while also having double panes. The two panes keep a layer of argon gas inside that will help with the temperature maintenance. Additionally, metal oxide glazing on the glass reflects the heat into the house while letting light pass through easily.

Update Your Heating and Air Conditioning

If your air conditioner and furnace are nearing the ten-year-old mark, then it is time to change them. Local heating and air conditioning experts can come in and do the installation for you. They can even provide you with suggestions on what replacements you can buy. The reason for the change is that a decade is the best that you can expect from any HVAC system. By that time, they have gone through ten years of hard work and are outdated. Getting the latest will ensure that you get the best performance.

Replace Old Lighting and Appliances

Another thing to upgrade will be the various electrical appliances and the lights. For lighting, moving to LEDs can cut a large amount off your lighting bill. They use 75 percent less energy and last 25 times longer than their conventional equivalents. Older appliances, especially those in the kitchen, will need updating, too.

For example, modern stoves use less or even zero gas. Look for appliances that have the Energy Star certification. These standards are updated regularly and ensure that the appliance will save on energy, whether it is a refrigerator or clothes dryer.

Add Better Insulation

Changing the insulation of your house can be a big energy saver. Once installed, insulation doesn’t need any additional expense. You also don’t have to cover the entire house. The attic and walls should be enough to cut down your energy bill significantly. A lot of older homes have inadequate insulation and have holes everywhere. Replacing the old insulation with modern material seals up the cracks easily and greatly improves your energy efficiency. You can do it yourself or have a professional do the installation.

Buy Energy-saving Devices

There are a few items that can make your home a lot more energy-efficient. A good example is a fireplace insert. If you have a fireplace, you’ll notice that it is very inefficient. The heat comes out, and the cold air can come in from the outside. With an insert, the heat is more controlled, and it spreads out much more easily. It even consumes less fuel.

Another great purchase is a tankless water heater. Instead of heating water in a slow, inefficient way, you can have hot water when you need it without needing to use energy to keep it warm. Look for devices that can help make your life easier while also saving you energy.

Going Solar

Another way to save on your energy bill is to generate your energy. The most common method is to go solar. All you need is some space on your roof, and you should be able to set up some panels.

You can generate enough energy to power lights and a few appliances. While it doesn’t seem much, it can build up over time. Besides that, solar panels are not the only way they can be used to help generate energy. Solar heaters are also available, which can still be effective even during colder months.

Saving money on your energy bill adds up over time. If you can implement some of the changes above, you will see a big bump in your available spending money. Instead of spending them on bills, they can go to somewhere more helpful for your home life. You can also use it to further invest in it your home for better improvements. Older homes need all the love that they can get, so it will be worth it.