How can I reduce energy costs?
/by Brian Huie on 10/13/2024
My easiest tip: change out all light bulbs to LED
My most energy efficient tip: Update your home’s water heater and/or heating system (read on for specifics).
There are many ways to save energy in your home - here’s some of my favorites, in order from easiest changes to more complex.
Saving energy in your home starts with easy changes that anyone can tackle without special skills or tools. Swap out your old light bulbs for LEDs. This comes with the added bonus that you can select your ideal brightness - love a bright home? (I personally love a home with plenty of overhead and wall lighting)
Because LED bulbs are so efficient, they are able to get a high lumen count, which is the brightness rating without coming anywhere near the maximum wattage- many basic LED bulbs can be found in lumen counts that are 3x the brightness of similar incandescent CFL bulbs, but still use way less energy. Prefer a lighting atmosphere with more ambiance and a soft glow? Your LED bulb options are very customizable, so you can turn on “the big light” without ruining the ambiance when you select a bulb with a very low lumen count. For frame of reference an “average” a19 bulb is around 400 lumens, so compare the bulbs you are buying to this number. and you’ll have a general idea of what to expect. Don’t forget to change out the bulbs in the less noticed areas, like the garage (if you have fluorescent tubes in the garage as many do, there are even LED options for this so you don’t need to replace the fixture if you don’t want to), the pantry, closets, etc - over time, the energy usage really adds up even in these areas.
Replace your home’s air filters quarterly- not only will this help your system to stay running longer, but it will save on heating & cooling costs too.
Add window treatments: any type of window treatment will offer you additional insulation around the windows, so pick the type you like best for your style and budget. Honeycomb shades, which are on of the more budget-friendly of the custom options are one of the best ways to add window insulation. But even hanging a set of curtains will help! Additionally, a neat product you can buy to help with window insulation without changing the look of your windows is window inserts - it’s like upgrading from double to triple pane, or from triple to quad pane, windows without the hefty cost.
Swap out your old thermostat for a smart one with more setting customizations to save energy. At a minimum, program your thermostat so your heat is not running at times that it doesn’t need to be.
Update appliances. It goes without saying the newer appliances have more energy efficiency built-in. But, there are some appliances that will go above and beyond in this effort. Check out this article regarding heat pump washer dryer units for one of my favorite options.
Improve your home’s insulation. Need to replace your siding? This is the perfect time to evaluate your weather your home’s insulation can be improved- and many siding companies can perform insulation upgrades for you. Even if you aren’t re-siding your house, there may be ways to improve insulation: check your doors’ weatherstripping and replace if there are any air drafts; have a handyman check for any gaps/holes/ other issues in your siding, and have them filled with spray foam, which costs under $10 per can at any hardware store. Have an crawlspace or insulation company check your crawlspace and attic to be sure it is properly insulated- if there are recommended upgrades/repairs to your insulation they can usually be completed without major invasive procedures.
Lastly, when it comes time to replace your furnace, or add cooling to your home, consider a heat pump system. There are heat pump options that work with most existing central heating systems and there are also mini split systems that can be added to homes that don’t have existing duct work, so there is likely an option that will be perfect for your home. And, heat pump systems save a tremendous amount of energy.
