Some home energy-saving updates shrink your utility bill regardless of the season. For example, planting shrubs and trees near your home will shade it from scorching summer rays and insulate it from fierce winter winds. So look for these types of all-season tips. They’ll take your investment in time and equipment further. Here are several more tips for maintaining an all-season energy-efficient home.
Do Home Energy Maintenance
You don’t want to be replacing your broken furnace while Chinook winds bear down on your home or rental property. So start in your energy-saving maintenance and updates in the fall and the spring. Despite the season, maintenance that’s too late takes twice as long and costs twice as much. So, plan ahead. Deploy some energy efficiency tips for the fall, like insulating around windows and doors or cleaning your heating vents (you wouldn’t believe what can build up in them). And in the spring, perform other maintenance tasks—clean your AC vents and around your unit, and install blackout curtains as they can help keep your home cooler by blocking out the heat-inducing light.
Maintain Your Heating and Cooling System
Your window AC units or HVAC systems are the biggest energy users in your home. So, addressing any inefficiencies, there is a big opportunity to save money. Start with the basics — regularly clean your system’s filters and ductwork. Your AC system uses less energy and lasts longer when it can easily move your home’s air. Dirty, clogged filters are a common culprit, but also they’re the easiest maintenance task to tick off. Remove dust and grime from your air vents with a dust rag or boom. And keep your floor vents free from rugs, furniture, and other obstructions. Even a little resistance to airflow increases your heating and cooling costs.
Adopt Smart Home Devices
Smart home devices like smart lighting and smart appliances save you money through customization. They adjust your home’s energy usage to your specific routine. Smart thermostats, for example, use specialized software that monitors when you’re at home and when you’re away. Then the thermostat adjusts temps to maximize your heating and cooling. Smart bulbs do the same with your home’s lighting, automatically adjusting bulb brightness with the time of day. Even hot water heaters have gone smart. By learning when and how much hot water you use, smart hot water tanks can adjust their heating times to conserve energy. But you can save energy with your old hot water tank by turning its thermostat setting to 120 F°(50 C°).
Update Windows and Coverings
Your windows make up about 15% to 20% of the surface of your home. And if you have gaps and cracks around your window frames or sills, you’re literally throwing money out the window. So, use exterior based silicone caulking to fill in any cracks and holes. And if you need a complete window replacement, upgrade to a double-paned window. Double-panes are thicker and contain an insulating air gap that resists heat loss, saving you significant cash. For a simpler, less costly fix, choose window coverings like thick insulating curtains to stop heat loss. And use dual-use window coverings to block sun rays in the summer. Then pin them back in the winter for some free solar heat.
About Author:
Morgen Henderson is a tech and sustainability writer from the beautiful mountains of Utah. When she’s not typing away at her computer, you can find her exploring the outdoors and traveling the globe. You can view more of her work at https://hendersonmorgend.contently.com/.
