6 Energy Saving Tips When Building Your Home

We've compiled some tips when building or renovating your home to help you improve your home's energy saving ability!

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Smart Thermostat

Thermostats don’t have magic tricks up their sleeves. When it comes to saving you money, that is. When you look at the fundamentals of this issue, it is quite simple: heating a space requires energy. The amount of energy you require depends on how warm you want your space(s) and for how long you want them at this temperature.

It is important to realize that a smart thermostat can only save you money within the boundaries you define. This is a small wins game where many small wins add up to substantial energy savings. For every degree Celsius (1.8 F) you lower the temperature for 8 hours, you save 2% off of your energy bill. The most popular brand, Nest, even makes it easy to adjust your home's temperature from your phone while you aren't home!

Insulating Your Attic

Adding insulation to your attic can help seal air leaks and improve your home’s heating and cooling costs. The amount of insulation needed to cover your attic depends on your home’s size and the climate in your region, but according to HomeAdvisor.com, the average cost to blow in additional insulation into your attic is around $5000

Replace Old Windows

Go the extra mile by sealing the air leaks in and around the old windows in your home by replacing them with new, energy efficient ones. This can be a costly project, but can save an immense amount of money in the long run (as well as increase its value!).

Install Solar Panels

Although solar panels aren’t exactly cheap, they’re becoming a popular way to heat hot water and generate electricity for homes. Solar panels have many benefits! They help you save money on energy bills in the long run, promote lower fossil fuel usage and may help you qualify for annual tax incentives. Typically, they are installed on your roof and cut your electricity costs by generating energy independently of your utility company. Consider the do’s and don’ts of home solar panel systems.

Choose Energy Star Products

Energy Star products, such as refrigerators, televisions, stoves, washers and air conditioners, meet energy-efficient specifications set by the EPA. Energy Star-qualified appliances use 10-50% less energy than standard appliances and help reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. If you plan to replace an appliance soon, consider getting an Energy Star-certified product.

Switch to LED Lighting

By replacing your home's five most frequently used light fixtures or bulbs with models that have earned the ENERGY STAR, you can save $75 each year.

Compared to traditional incandescents, energy-efficient lightbulbs such as halogen incandescents, compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), and light emitting diodes (LEDs) have the following advantages:

• Typically use about 25%-80% less energy than traditional incandescents, saving you money
• Can last 3-25 times longer.

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