When you’re remodeling your home, not only are you updating its look and style and infusing your own taste into it, but you also have an opportunity to make your home more energy efficient. That means lower energy bills, and lessening your impact on the environment. But not everyone is an energy-efficiency expert! Luckily, the team at Rick’s Energy Solutions is and we can help you identify the best improvements you can make to increase your home’s energy usage. Let’s look at five of the most energy-efficient (and realistic) updates and improvements you can make to your home during a remodel.
Plug the Holes
According to US News and World Report, the least invasive and most practical energy-efficiency upgrade to make in your home is a fairly simple one – just plug up any holes. Small gaps and cracks and leaky seals in your home can allow your air conditioned air out during the warm months and bleed out expensive heated air during the colder months. These drafts can end up costing you a fortune on your energy bills. A simple way to save a few bucks is to use weatherproof caulk to seal cracks around windows, door frames and baseboards. If you notice a draft in your home, there’s probably a small leak somewhere, and if you can’t find it, our team can help as part of a whole home analysis.
Re-Insulate
US News also found that about 50% of the homes in the U.S. are not properly insulated. This means that you’re probably losing expensively heated or cooled air simply through your walls and ceiling. By adding new insulation (or replacing the old stuff with newer, more eco-friendly options) to your walls and attic, you’ll realize a huge savings on your heating and cooling costs.
Thermostat Upgrade
Whether you’re replacing your HVAC system or not, a new thermostat is a simple upgrade you can make even with older units. Programmable thermostats allow you to control the temperature of your home throughout the day, even if you’re not there. That means you can set your thermostat to use less power keeping the home comfortable for you when you’re not in it. You can then program the system to kick back on about 45 minutes or an hour before you usually return home. By not spending as much on heating or cooling the home when you’re not there, you can save substantially on your energy costs.
Energy-Efficient Windows
According to the Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, installing low-e exterior storm windows can save you as much as 33 percent yearly on your heating and cooling bills. These storm windows work by reflecting infrared heat back into your home with a virtually invisible coating of metal that can improve the energy efficiency of the window. In fact, simply adding a storm window can offer nearly as much benefit as replacing the window all together but at a fraction of the cost.
Replace the Toilet
Installing a newer model toilet with an energy-efficiency rating can save you up to $100 per year on your water bill. WaterSense toilets use 1.6 gallons of water per flush or less as opposed to older models that use as much as six gallons each time. If you’re already planning on installing a new toilet, this is an easy way to save a bit of cash – and water!
For more energy-efficiency tips to keep in mind during your home’s remodel to help you save your hard-earned money, contact Rick’s Energy Solutions today. Our experienced technicians can perform an energy analysis at your home to help you identify potential cost savings. To get started, give us a call today at 707-578-5380 or 707-529-2570.