Tips for Creating an Energy Efficient Home
In today's economy, just about everyone is looking to cut expenses. ONe of the largest bills a home owner has is their energy bill. Check out the guest post below for great tips on energy efficiency.
Tips for Creating an Energy Efficient Home
By Andrew Hill @ www.austinhomelistings.com
What does green mean to you? Is it a hybrid car or a home with solar panels? Perhaps it’s carpooling to work and doing your part to recycle more. However you define it, it seems that most people can agree that there are many benefits to going green. That doesn’t mean you have to subscribe to Green Peace or live in a strange co-op made of recycled water bottles. But there are plenty of simple ways that you can go green in your home and in the process make the earth a little healthier and your bank account a bit larger.
Going green is all about being more energy efficient. And whether you know it or not, your home has plenty of green, energy efficient features just waiting to be manipulated. For example, by adjusting your blinds to capture or keep out heat, you can reduce your dependence on fans and air conditioning. Likewise, opening a window during the right time of the day can also make your home feel more comfortable. Of course, your thermostat is another tool that can be used for energy efficiency. I you don’t have one already, try investing in a programmable thermostat. These are handy little devices for reducing your home’s usage of the air conditioning when you’re not there. After all, there’s no sense in cooling your home to 72 degrees if you’re going to be in the office all day.
Another green and energy efficient feature you probably have never considered is caulk and weather stripping. Over time, these are worn away all across your home. However, they are very important in reducing heat transfer. By investing a bit of time and money, properly caulking and weather stripping important parts of your home can also help reduce how much energy you are spending trying to keep your home at the perfect temperature.
Switching to low flow faucet and showerheads is an easy way to cut back on your water consumption. Likewise, by converting to CFLs instead of incandescent lights you can reduce your monthly utility bills. These are one-time costs that go a long way at cutting back on energy usage.
For a truly revolutionary take on energy efficiency, solar energy is very popular among many green home enthusiasts. With improved designs and various shapes and sizes, solar panels can power a variety of household items. From larger panels that can heat pools and reduce reliance on propane to smaller panels that can power external floodlights, solar power is a great way to become more efficient without altering your lifestyle.
By making these switches you will make your house much more energy efficient and see a significant reduction in your monthly bills. And although there might be a cost to this initial investment, over time you will be saving yourself energy and money. To find out more about how you can go green or for real estate information in general, be sure to contact Adam Tarr, today!