If your home is properly insulated or you’ve recently had it re-insulated to become more energy-efficient, that’s great! However, there are still a number of things you can do to maximize energy savings. No more having to dread opening your utility bills!
Increase Energy Efficiency of Your Home
Besides insulation installation, what else can you do to increase the energy efficiency of your home? Good news – there are actually quite a lot of things you can do!
Buy ENERGY STAR rated appliances – there are a wide variety of ENERGY STAR products available, from windows and doors, fridges, and washing machines to air conditioners, water heaters, and much more! Just look for the blue label on the product you want to buy.
Change air filters on a monthly basis – just like most appliances in your home, your AC needs maintenance too. When your air filters are dirty, your AC not only uses more energy but also is at a higher risk of breaking down, so changing them about once every month is highly recommended.
Seal your ducts – did you know leaky ductwork is one of the leading causes of home energy inefficiency? Make sure your ducts are properly sealed! One easy way to detect leaky ductwork is by shining a flashlight into your air registers. If you can see light escaping from the outside of the ducts, there’s a problem!
Buy CFL bulbs – if you haven’t heard of compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs, you may want to think about replacing your incandescent bulbs with them. Far from the sickly hospital-bright light many people think of, CFL bulbs have greatly improved in both looks and efficiency and can reduce your energy costs by as much as 50 percent!
Use fans when you can – running fans counterclockwise during the summer helps spread cool air around, making you feel cooler while allowing you to set your thermostat a little higher. Running them clockwise in the winter pushes warm air up to the ceiling and back down the walls, making you feel warmer and allowing you to lower the thermostat and save some money.
Save hot water – saving hot water is probably nothing you haven’t heard before, but it’s one of the EASIEST ways to lower your energy bills, trust us. Shower when you can instead of taking a bath. Only run the dishwasher or do laundry when you have full loads.
Save electricity – this one is another no-brainer, but it’s important to turn off the lights when you’re not using the room. The same goes for DVD players, computers, CD players, etc. Turn them off when you’re done, or at least put them to sleep. If your DVD player or anything else is plugged into a power strip, make sure you unplug the power strip when you’re done – electronics still use energy, even when they’re in standby mode (fun fact: that’s called vampire power!).
Install a programmable thermostat – all you have to do is set it up and adjust the settings, it’s as easy as that! Programmable thermostats automatically adjust the temperature to your presets, meaning they can be set to much more energy-efficient levels when you know you’re not going to be home.
Get a home energy audit – though not necessarily the cheapest option, getting a home energy audit is a great way to see exactly where your home is losing money!
And of course, if your home doesn’t have enough insulation, installing more is a great way to improve energy efficiency! If you need insulation contractors in Los Angeles, San Diego, or anywhere else in Southern California, OJ Insulation can help. Also feel free to contact us if you think your home may need more insulation but you’re not completely sure!
