With temperatures in Texas at an all-time high during the summer, it’s the perfect time to assess whether you’re maximizing the energy efficiency of your home! These tips for a more energy-efficient home include some simple steps you can take to increase efficiency, as well as bigger home projects that will save you money in the long term.
Upgrade Your Appliances, Windows, and Window Treatments
While this one may seem like a large undertaking, upgrading these items one at a time will greatly improve the energy efficiency of your home. Older appliances take significantly more energy than newer, more efficient appliances and will end up costing you more money over time.
On top of that, if your home has old windows you could be losing the ability to temperature control your house because of your windows. This causes your HVAC system to work harder, not smarter. Lastly, if you have a room in your house or a side of the home that heats up more, we highly recommend investing in energy-efficient window treatments. Energy-efficient window treatments can cut down on the energy lost in your home a great deal.
Get a Yearly HVAC Inspection
A yearly HVAC inspection can also cut down on your energy costs over time. If your HVAC system isn’t clean or running properly, it could be expelling way more energy than necessary, resulting in a large energy bill that nobody wants. A yearly HVAC inspection will ensure that your entire system is running efficiently and your HVAC isn’t having to work harder than necessary. Most HVAC units can last around 20 years, but even if your air conditioner is only 10 years old, you may save 20-40 percent of your cooling energy costs by replacing it with a newer, more efficient model.
Weatherstrip Your Windows and Doors
To go along with having more efficient windows and window treatments, another simpler step is to go around your home once a year and check the weatherstripping on all of your windows and doors. Anywhere your weatherstripping is cracked or coming loose is going to be an energy sink, so you’ll want to replace the old weatherstripping, in turn, increasing your energy savings.
Get a Programmable Thermostat
Last but definitely not least, a way to reduce your energy costs and increase efficiency, is by upgrading to a programmable thermostat. A smart thermostat can be remotely controlled from an app on your phone, giving you the freedom to raise the temperature in your home when you aren’t there so that you aren’t unnecessarily cooling an empty house. The ability to program your thermostat depending on the time of day will directly increase your home’s energy efficiency and ensure you are comfortable at home at all times!
The benefits of an energy-efficient home go beyond lowering the monthly energy bill — it also positively impacts your quality of life! At Austinatious, our goal is to help you create a space that you look forward to coming home to at the end of a long day. We’re more than happy to discuss energy-efficient window treatment options with you when you’re ready!