Plant Trees
If you’re not ready to go all-out with renovations, it’s okay to start small. Creative landscaping can help you keep your house cooler all year round, and also beautifies your lot. If you’d like to plant trees to help cool your home, it’s best for trees to be planted on the west side of your home. Although planting trees won’t make a huge difference in your home’s energy efficiency, it’s a small change that will offer a bit of cooler shade while also giving your home more curb appeal.
Use Compact Fluorescent Lamps
Many homeowners still use incandescent light bulbs when they should be using compact fluorescent lamps, or CFLs. They’re a bit more expensive than traditional light bulbs, but they last much longer and use fewer watts to create the same amount of light. Just by purchasing a different kind of light bulb, you’ll save money over time by getting more hours of light from each bulb that you purchase.
Replace Old Showerheads and Toilets
Water wastage is a huge problem that leads to energy inefficiency. If you live in an older home, replacing the shower heads and toilets can significantly reduce your water bill. Investing in low flow showerheads and toilets is a great way to save water, and in turn, money.
Get a New A/C Unit
Outdated A/C units often have to work overtime to cool your home efficiently. If your A/C unit is 10 years or older and your home is noticeably harder to keep cool than it once was, it’s probably time for an upgrade. Consult with a professional to see if your home’s entire system needs to be replaced. In some cases, if you choose to just upgrade one part of your home’s HVAC system, it will continue to be inefficient due to the parts not working together properly. It’s so important to cool your home, so this is one of the best renovations you can do.
Hang Dry Clothes
If you’re looking to save a bit of money on your bills while also reducing your carbon footprint, hang drying your clothes instead of constantly running the dryer is a great way to do this. Instead of investing in costly upgrades and renovations, you can use this simple tactic to cut household costs.
Conclusion
Lots of homeowners are looking for ways to lower their energy bill while also being gentler on the environment. If you’re interested in creating a more energy efficient home, bring in a professional to see how your home can benefit from any of the above upgrades. To really take it to the next level, get an energy audit to find what works best for your unique home. Not only will you save money on bills, but there are also tax cuts available to homeowners who invest in new, energy efficient materials.