7 Tips to Reducing Your Energy Consumption

 

1) Insulate Your Attic 

Your utility bill is due largely to the cost of heating and cooling your home. Without attic insulation, heat can escape, making it costly to maintain comfortable indoor temperatures. Insulation reduces overall energy bills by an average of 20%.  Investing in insulation reduces the overall cost of heating and cooling your home and will pay for itself in about 5-6 years.

 

2) Install Solar Tubes for Natural Lighting 

Solar tubes capture sunlight using a rooftop dome, transfering the light indoors through a tube that runs from the roof to the interior ceiling. A diffuser then disperses the light into the space below. Solar tubes provide exceptional lighting, are cost effective, can go almost anywhere, install easily, and allow you to earn a 30% tax credit.

 

3) Open Upstairs Windows on Summer Nights 

Take advantage of the missing heat from the sun and allow nature to cool your home, with no cost to you! How? Just open those windows on warm summer nights. Better yet, get a whole house fan for the transition times from daylight to dusk. Then open up those windows.

 

4) Install a Whole House Fan or Night Breeze System 

A whole house fan can substitute for an air conditioner during a good portion of the year. The fan pulls in air from open widows and exhausts it through the attic and the roof.

Start your weekday by closing all the windows and drapes. When you get home, watch the outside temperature. When it matches your desired interior temperature, open your windows and run the fan until the inside temperature is equalized with the outside.

If you’ve managed to get by without the air conditioner during the day, this works great! It works well even if you have been running the AC. Just be sure to turn off the AC before running the fan.

If you’re not super handy, installing a whole house fan can be tricky. You might consider hiring a professional to take measurements of your attic and install dedicated circuit wiring to ensure that the whole house fan is installed properly.

 

Find more information about the benefits of whole house fans from the US Department of Energy: https://energy.gov/energysaver/cooling-whole-house-fan

 

5) Install exterior shades on south & west windows 

Exterior roller blinds are made of wood, steel, aluminum or vinyl and are mounted above the window. They can be raised or lowered to allow for different variations of shade. Look for a range of types of indoor and outdoor window treatments that are stylish and cost effective! 

 

 Read more about how to make your home fabulous and energy saving: https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/energy-efficient-window-treatments

 

6) Switch out CFLs with low Kelvin LEDs

Low Kelvin-rated LEDs use 75% less energy than the standard incandescent and fluorescent bulbs. They have claimed life ranges from 18 to 43 years, brighten almost instantly, and many are dimmable. These light bulbs work well with timers and motion sensors as well. Overall a great investment for a energy saving home!

Read more: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2013/10/best-energy-saving-lightbulbs/index.htm

 

 7) Put home electronics on smart switches 

Common household appliances such as coffee makers, DVD players, and curling irons are easy to forget. Especially when you’re running late and rushing to get out of the house. By plugging your devices into smart switches, you can turn off your devices with the click of a remote or even through an app on your smartphone. There are numerous types of switches, monitors, and sensors to accommodate your different needs.

 

http://www.techlicious.com/guide/gadgets-that-help-you-save-energy/

by Kristina Miller 2017