How much was your last energy bill? Saving energy may actually be one of the easiest ways you can save money on monthly expenses. By maintaining your home with energy in mind, you can save up to 30% of your energy bill every month. That adds up to a lot of savings over time that you can use for other things!
The best part is that taking advantage of these savings is easy! All you need to do is complete a home energy audit. A home energy audit examines your home for areas where improvements could be made to save on energy. Only a professional auditor can find all the areas for improvement, but you can get a head start on your own energy audit by following these 5 quick tips:
1. Examine the Outside of Your Home
One of the most common problems for energy consumption are air leaks. Air leaks allow the air from inside your home, whether colder or warmer, to mix with outside air. This interaction causes your HVAC system to work extra hard to correct the issue. Your HVAC system then consumes more energy, which costs you more money.
The worst air leaks are noticeable from the outside in cracks and small holes. Examine any brick or stone areas of your home to look for cracks leading to the indoors. Especially check mortar, the foundation, siding, and all doors and windows. Once you find an air leak, use caulk to seal it.
2. Seal Indoor Air Leaks
The next place to look for air leaks is indoors. Examine your pipes, faucets, electrical outlets and wiring for these leaks. If you feel air cooler or warmer than room temperature, there is often an air leak to blame. Follow these lines to look for wearing that may allow air to come into your home, and repair as needed with weatherstripping or caulk.
3. Check Insulation
Next, it’s time to examine your insulation. Insulation has a very important job of keeping the outside and inside temperatures separate. When there is a gap in your insulation, or if it was not installed properly, you will experience drafts and/or areas of your house that are difficult to heat or cool. These issues also lead to higher energy bills. If you are able to repair the insulation issues in your home, you will increase the comfort level and the energy efficiency of your home as a whole. If your home needs new insulation, there are new services that will use a special spray form that sticks to the walls and insulates more efficiently than sheet insulation.
4. Rethink Your Lighting
Lighting accounts for about 10% of your energy bill. The technology around home lighting has changed dramatically in the past few years. Not only have new lighting methods like compact florescent and LED bulbs become more common, they have also come down in price! An LED bulb saves energy when compared to traditional incandescent bulbs, and last for years longer. By replacing the lighting in your home with energy conscious options, you can save money and experience better lighting.
5. Maintain or Replace Your Appliances
The biggest appliances in your home also use up the most energy. When considering new appliances, look for models that display the Energy Star Certificate to know that they are designed to energy-saving specifications.
Other appliances, like your water heater and furnace, only require some maintenance to save you money. When looking at your furnace, make sure that your air filters have been replaced recently. If there are large amounts of dust on your air filter, not only will it not filter air as well, it will also cause your furnace to work harder to push the air through it. Similarly, when checking your water heater, make sure that sediment has not built up on the bottom of the tank, as it has similar effects.
Protect your home and your wallet by performing a Home Energy Audit. If you have any questions about saving money and energy in your home, call Warner Service to have a qualified technician examine your individual HVAC system.
