Kitchen & Bathroom Design Blog

Here is a new blog post from a guest author contributing to
Lang’s Kitchen & Bath’s website.  We hope you find this topic helpful!

Homeowners often find their electric bills rising unexpectedly. There are numerous reasons this can happen, but you can stop it with a few innovative home projects.

Consider starting these renovations to make your home more energy-efficient and save more money every month. These changes can make a big difference and even add value to your home, making them a no-brainer.

1. Add More Insulation

When your HVAC unit pushes warm air through your house to heat it in the winter, the hot air rises to the ceilings. It passes through to your attic, where it can dissipate outside. Your home may not contain as much heat as you think because it lacks enough insulation.

Attic insulation can thin over time, so consider adding a new layer during your next free weekend. Loose-fill or blanket insulation is easy to handle without professional training. When your house contains the hot or cold air from your HVAC system, the unit won’t turn on as frequently or use as much electricity.

2. Repair Your Roof

Your roof can become damaged at any point of the year. Continuous rain, seasonal hurricanes and thunderstorms can soak the roofing materials, leading to water damage that softens and cracks. The shingles can also separate after withstanding blows from airborne debris during storms.

Schedule a professional inspection to ensure your roof isn’t causing your energy leakage. It’s time to repair or replace it if something’s wrong. Doing this will regulate your house’s internal temperature much more effectively and add value to your home, which will pay off if you decide to move.

3. Replace Your Windows

Most homes come with traditional windows. They keep your home sealed against temperature fluctuations, but they aren’t effective energy savers. Updated models with energy-efficient designs are better at conserving electricity.

Consider replacing your windows with greener alternatives to minimize your home’s carbon footprint. All you need to do is compare each model with three standard metrics. The solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) should have a high rating to deflect as much solar heat as possible.

A low U-factor and eliminated air leakage are the other two factors that prove window models are energy-efficient. Discuss your options with a professional team to find the best green replacements for the windows currently increasing your electric bill every month.

4. Change Your Lightbulbs

Homeowners often forget about their lightbulbs until they need to replace them. They’re not supposed to remain at the front of your mind, but they should be one of the factors you consider while figuring out how to make your home more energy-efficient.

Traditional incandescent bulbs release 90% of their energy as heat because they get so hot to the touch while turned on. It’s a common household energy waste since people never go a day without using their lights. Combat this by restocking your home with light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs.

LED lights use up to 90% less energy than incandescents because they produce less heat. They’re available at any home goods or grocery store and easily work with tight budgets. It’s a simple renovation trick that you can complete in a few minutes and make a significant difference in your home’s carbon footprint.

5. Seal Your Ductwork

Ductwork connects your HVAC unit to the rest of your home. Most people can find theirs in their basement or crawl space, although much of it will also run through your walls. Your ductwork may form cracks that waste heated or cooled air with time and daily use.

It’s easy to check your ductwork for any leaks. When your HVAC fan turns on, place your hand against each meeting point between duct segments. You shouldn’t feel any air pressing out against your palm. If you do, using duct tape or sealant is an easy way to solve your energy efficiency problem. Your HVAC unit will turn on less frequently afterward because the air flows quickly inside your home.

6. Upgrade Your HVAC Unit

Your house’s energy efficiency problem may be your HVAC unit itself. Older models don’t have designs or features that consider their environmental impact. Their purpose is to keep your home comfortable, not conserve electricity.

Replacing HVAC units that are more than a decade old could be an excellent investment. You’ll upgrade to an energy-efficient model and guarantee your family’s comfort because the newer unit won’t break down during the height of summer or winter.

7. Get a New Thermostat

Old thermostats don’t take a home’s electricity usage into account. They monitor your household’s internal temperature with a thermistor, which tracks temperature changes electronically through an internal resistor.

Older thermistors may not be as accurate because the technology deteriorates with age. It could also use programming that doesn’t consider a home’s carbon footprint.

Upgrading to a new thermostat will reduce your home’s energy usage. Pick a replacement that minimizes how often it needs to run due to internal tech with a green focus, whether you want a smart model or a traditional-looking unit.

8. Find an On-Demand Water Heater

Anyone can make their home more energy-efficient by switching their washing machine to cold water and turning the temperature down during their shower. Both efforts reduce your home’s carbon footprint, but your water heater will still work against your sustainable efforts.

Even when you’re not actively using water, your water heater runs continuously to keep its reservoir warm. An on-demand heater replacement significantly reduces how much electricity your home needs to produce warm or hot water. It will only heat water when actively in use, so you can rest easy knowing it isn’t driving your electric bill up between washes or showers.

Make Your Home More Energy-Efficient

These are a few simple renovations to make your home more energy-efficient no matter where you live. Think about which projects would make the most difference right away, like swapping your thermostat or replacing old windows. Even small changes like replacing your lightbulbs can make a big difference to your home’s carbon footprint. Your electric bill will decrease significantly, and you’ll increase your home’s value in the process.