10 Ways to Make Your Home More Energy Efficient
Making your home more energy efficient doesn’t have to be a big budget, hire-a-pro operation. Start cutting energy costs now with these modest changes you can make on your own.
1. Install a programmable thermostat
A programmable thermostat automatically adjusts the temperature in your home to fit your schedule. By turning on the heat or air conditioning only when needed—not when you’re gone or asleep—you save energy. Programmable thermostats start at about $30, but they can save you up to $180 per year on your energy bills. And it’s easy to install one yourself.
2. Switch out lightbulbs
If you have incandescent bulbs in your light fixtures, replace them with energy-efficient compact fluorescents (CFLs). CFLs use about 75 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer. A single CFL light bulb can save more than $40 in energy costs over its lifetime.
3. Seal air leaks
When you have air leaks around windows and doors, you’re paying to send warm or cool air outside. Even small cracks and gaps waste significant amounts of energy. Sealing those leaks with weather stripping and caulk can save you 10 percent or more on your energy bills.
4. Add attic insulation
Insulation keeps your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Proper attic insulation is especially important. If you don’t have enough, your heating and cooling costs literally go through the roof. If you have less than 13 inches of insulation in your attic, you may need to add more. Visit Lowes.com to see the recommended amount for your area.
5. Change your furnace filter
A dirty furnace filter slows airflow, can cause maintenance problems, and makes the system work harder to heat or cool your home. Check your filter every month. If it looks dirty, change it. It’s a good idea to change the filter at least every 3 months and it takes just seconds.
6. Insulate your water heater
Newer water heaters are well-insulated and don’t require a tank blanket. However, if your water heater is in a cold garage, it could benefit from an insulation blanket. Or, if you touch the outside of the tank and it is so hot it could burn your hand, it is a candidate for an insulation blanket. You can buy a water heater insulation blanket for about $20 and install it yourself, being careful to keep it away from the pilot light. Adding insulation cuts standby heat loss by 25–45 percent, which saves 4–9 percent on water heating costs.
7. Upgrade an appliance
If you have a refrigerator, dishwasher, or clothes washer that’s more than 10–15 years old, consider replacing it with a new Energy Star model. Energy Star appliances use significantly less energy than other models, which saves big money over the life of the appliance. Look for the Energy Star label on appliances in stores and online.
8. Replace an old bath fixture
Older toilets, bath sink faucets, and showerheads use more water than necessary to get the job done. Save energy and money by replacing old bath fixtures with more efficient WaterSense-labeled products and other low-flow models. You can also swap out the flush mechanism to a dual-flush. It is a cheap and easy way to get the same results.
9. Use ceiling fans year-round
You know that ceiling fans help you feel cooler in the summer, but did you know they can help you feel warmer in the winter? Put the fan on a low speed and set the reversing switch for upward airflow -- the blades should spin clockwise as seen from below. This pushes naturally rising warm air from the ceiling back down into the room. You’ll feel warmer and your furnace won’t have to work as hard.
10. Do an energy audit
If you’re really serious about making your entire home more energy efficient, do an energy audit. This is an overall assessment that takes into account where you live, the size of your home, your heating and cooling system, the appliances and fixtures you have, and other details about energy-related variables. Get started with an interactive home audit at Lowes.com.
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