6 Simple Steps to Increasing Your Home’s Energy Efficiency

Home carries more meaning now. Haven. Shelter. Office. School. 

Quarantine meant that a majority of Americans worked and schooled from home, and more time at home translated to increased energy consumption and rising utility bills – an estimated 22% increase. The typical U.S. household spends $118.00 a month on its utility bills. Since spring, consumers have seen an average increase of $25 in monthly utilities. 

Here is a list of simple ways you can increase your home’s energy efficiency and decrease your energy bill. It’s our take on Newton’s Third Law of Motion. 

1. Replace incandescent bulbs with LED or CFL light bulbs. Lightly typically accounts for around 11% of your energy bill. Incandescent bulbs are huge energy wasters. Only 10% of their energy is light; the other 90% is heat. So, it’s not surprising that  LED and CFL bulbs are six times more efficient.  You can make the swap gradually, as your old bulbs burn out, so your budget doesn’t take a hit. 

2. Seal up your home. Caulk cracks and crevices. Weatherstrip doors and windows and seal gaps around window air conditioning units. And speaking of windows, lower storms or install double-pane windows for extra insulation against the elements. If you have a fireplace, make sure your flue is closed when you are not using your fireplace. Add foam protectors around outlets and switch plates on exterior walls. The cumulative result of these efforts is as high as a 10% savings on heating and cooling costs.

3. Ease up on your heating and cooling. It’s 17% of your annual electric use. The U.S. Department of Energy recommends you keep your thermostat at 78 degrees in the summer when you are home and at 85 degrees when you are gone. In the winter, 68 degrees is optimal. Then dress for the season. Ditch the sweater in the summer; put it on in the winter. Add a pair of wooly socks for good measure. Draw curtains and close blinds on hot days. Close vents and shut the doors to rooms you don’t use. There’s no sense in heating or cooling uninhabited spaces. Make sure to clean filters regularly – every three months, more frequently if you have pets or allergies – as debris in filters forces your systems to work harder. Use ceiling fans in both winter and summer (you can change the direction of the blade according to the season). Doing so will allow you to adjust your thermostat up to 4 degrees without noticeable discomfort. 

4. Clean up your (laundry) act.  Heating water is 14% of the average home’s electrical bill, so wash your clothes with cold water when you can and wait for a full load. Wash and dry your clothes in the evening. Channel your grandmother and hang a clothesline, then dry your clothes on it. In inclement weather, use an indoor drying rack. Clean out your dryer’s lint trap after each load. Use felted dryer balls to help dry your clothes faster and to cut down on static electricity. And if you really want to get crazy, add a few drops of essential oil to your dryer balls to impart a soothing scent, like lavender. Who says being efficient and sustainable equals deprivation!

5. Switch off the switches. Items that are plugged in still use energy, even when not in use. So unplug appliances and lights when not in use. Ditto for electronics, including your computer, monitor, printer, and FAX machine. Turn off the heated dry cycle on your dishwasher. Invest in a programmable thermostat that automatically adjusts your temperatures when you are home and away. Also, turn off lights when you aren’t in the room. 

6. Don’t forget the bathroom. Install low-flow showerheads and low-flow toilets. Traditional toilets consume up to 40% of a home’s water use and use 3.5 gallons of water per flush. Low-flow toilets only use 1.6 gallons per flush. Turn off the exhaust fan after you leave the bathroom and keep the door open to clear the room of any steam.   

 

If you are serious about energy efficiency, you can always have an energy audit done. An energy audit is an inspection of your home’s energy flow. It will reveal gaps and seams where air (hot and cold) is escaping and suggest ways to remedy these breaches. 

Bottom line: there are numerous ways you can reduce energy waste, saving your budget – and the environment – much stress and strain.


* Specific loan program availability and requirements may vary. Please get in touch with your mortgage advisor for more information.