Improving your home energy efficiency is really as simple as choosing better underwear and socks; it could even be as complicated as shifting from a once-a-weekly shower to a once-a-month bath, or from a gas-powered hot water heater to electric-powered one. However, the biggest problem that faces homeowners is making their homes more energy-efficient. Some experts feel that this challenge can only be solved through making changes to personal and household habits. For instance, rather than changing over to an energy efficient home saver, why not switch to a milder natural heater? There are also other small changes that you can make that will make a real difference to your energy bills, like installing ceiling fans or replacing windows that let warm air in.
Heat Energy
When it comes to improving energy efficiency in the home, one of the most overlooked ways to save money is in the way of cooling and heating. Up to 75% of the energy used in standard home cooling systems is wasted because of air leaks. This means that a home cooling system needs to run at full capacity all day long to make up for the wasted energy. On the other hand, most heating systems use only a portion of available energy to function, so that at night, while everyone is sleeping, the house is effectively cool because of air leaks.
The problem with repairing these air leaks lies in the fact that they need to be addressed before any energy efficiency improvements are made. Fortunately, there is one simple way of fixing them. It is called venting. This process involves opening up the space behind a wall in your house and blowing fresh air out through the hole. By venting this way, you can cut down on the amount of heating and cooling that you need to do on a daily basis.
If you find that you’re having a hard time paying your utility bills, you should consider improving home energy efficiency in the cooling and heating system by following the tips above. For one thing, you should always turn off the central air conditioning during the hottest parts of the day. You should also make sure that the thermostat isn’t left set too high, which will keep your utility bills high. If your HVAC system isn’t functioning as well as it should, you should call a professional to give it a check-up.
Even though ventilation is an important step towards reducing air leaks, there are other things that you can do to stop them from occurring in the first place. For example, if you have a crawl space in your house, don’t use it for extra storage space. Instead, hire someone to waterproof it and place steps or drapes along the perimeter to prevent moisture from leaking out. Doing so will reduce the chances of your heating and cooling system being overwhelmed by water, which will help cut down on your energy costs.
Finding More Information Out About Energy Efficiency
If you feel uncomfortable about checking your home energy efficiency, consider getting a few friends to do it. It might seem odd, but you’ll be surprised at how much everyone can tell you about their home energy efficiency. Ask each of your guests to bring a piece of paper and jot down the efficiency ratings for each appliance they use in their homes. Once you’ve done this a few times, you can compare the data you have gathered to verify the efficiency ratings for your own system. Improving home energy efficiency doesn’t have to cost a lot of money, especially when you compare it to the cost of living that you’re likely to encounter after using inefficient appliances.
