An energy efficient house is the way for the future. Whether you live in a new or old home, there are many ways to make your home more energy efficient. Not only does it create ample savings but it is also beneficial for the environment. By doing this, you can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and shrink your home’s carbon footprint.
Did you know that you can save up to 25% when you take the initiative to make your home more energy efficient. There are many programs in place that you can take advantage of to get started on your home efficiency efforts. If you’re interested in qualifying for energy rebates, check out your government site for incentives they provide that make these efforts worthwhile. Here is the link for Canadian homeowners for energy efficient rebates.
The easiest way you can begin this daunting task is by considering purchasing products with energy certifications. Any appliance with an Energy Star certification is guaranteed to be energy efficient. If you really want to dive into the plunge of taking your home to the ultimate efficient level, you can apply for an Energuide home evaluation where an energy advisor assesses your home and provides an EnerGuide rating and an energy efficiency report for possible upgrades. For more information about this evaluation you can click here.
From building a net zero home, to the most efficient way to heat a house, people are always looking at energy saving ways to keep home efficiency at its best. Here are some home efficiency tips to help you get started:
1. Go for LED bulbs across your home
2. Do your laundry in cold water
3. Seal all your windows, cracks, leads for optimized heating and cooling so your bill can decrease by 10%, making it easier to heat any room in your home
4. Make sure all the filters are cleaned regularly
5. Microwave uses less energy than a stove for cooking
6. Use shades, blinds, and drapes in warm months to keep AC at optimum temperature
7. Make the most of natural light
8. Turn off all your electronics when you’re not using them
9. Check the heating settings of your thermostat by setting to 78F in summer and 68F in winter as it can save up to 8% on your annual bill for energy saving heating
10. Ceiling fans help lower your AC bill
11. Keep your refrigerators and deep freezers full so they operate at optimum levels and use less energy
12. Try to use dish washer and laundry machines at night or using them on eco mode
13. Turn off needless lights as they account for 12% of your annual energy bill, consider automatic shut off lights when exiting a room
14. Don’t charge your mobile overnight and leave it plugged
15. Dress warmly in your home in winters to save energy and dress light in summers to avoid putting too much pressure on your heating/cooling systems for energy efficient heating
It's also good to look at the most efficient heating systems of products, energy efficient home designs, and other energy saving at home tips to get as close as possible to a net zero house. For additional ways of making your home more energy efficient, take a look at another one of our blog posts on the topic. Taking on any of these energy efficient efforts will always add great resale value to your home, so take the plunge today and turn your home more into a zero energy home!