Today, energy costs are on the rise and more homeowners are looking for ways to reduce their energy bills. Reducing energy use in your home will save you money and help you reduce your carbon footprint. Here are a few simple ways to make your home more energy efficient.
- Perform an Energy Audit
It is important to find out what you are paying for when you pay your energy bill. Based on national averages from the US. Department of Energy (2019), “44 percent of utility bills resulting from energy usage is heating and cooling the home, 33 percent is attributed to lighting, cooking and other appliances, 14 percent is water heating, and 9 percent is energy used by the refrigerator alone.” You may want to hire a certified and trained energy auditor to come to your home to do an energy audit and assess energy inefficiencies and energy wasted. An energy auditor will inspect in and outside your home to identify areas that need energy reduction improvement. Then, you can develop a plan on how to identify areas where you can save.
- Windows and Doors Efficiency Upgrade
Old, worn windows tend to let the indoor air escape and let the outdoors inside. Replacing or adding weather stripping around drafty windows will save you money each year. It will keep the cool air in during the warm and hot months and the warm air inside during the winter months. You also may want to invest in weather stripping for your door.
- Use Energy-Efficient Light Bulbs
Replacing traditional incandescent lights with more energy efficient light bulbs is not very expensive. Most energy efficient light bulbs last longer than the traditional light bulbs so you won’t have to replace them as often as the traditional bulb.
- HVAC System Tune-Up
Arrange for an HVAC inspection and repair service each year. It will help keep your heating and cooling system running smoothly and efficiently. This means you will be saving money because the HVAC won’t be working hard. As well, have your furnace and duct-work serviced and cleaned each year because it will save you money each month.
- Control Your Thermostat
Smart thermostats are ideal for lowering energy costs. These devices use sensors to determine when you are not at home, can learn your temperature preferences and daily schedule, and also utilize local weather data to make energy saving adjustments. The sensors let the thermostat automatically adjust to different conditions.
- Appliance Energy Efficiency Improvements
If you need to replace an appliance, consider a high Energy Star rating. You can also maximize your old appliance efficiency. Keep your old appliances clean and free of dirt build up. To improve air circulation, your refrigerator should have about 1” of space surrounding it on all sides. Once each year, clean the refrigerator cooling coil of dust and debris. Wash clothes in the clothes washer in cold wash. Use the clothes line as much as possible to dry clothes. Keep the dryer lint trap free of lint. Keeping the lint screen and dryer duct clean helps the dryer run more efficiently.
Buy an Appliance Protection Plan
An appliance protection plan, or appliance warranty, provides home appliance warranty coverage for specified appliances. They can cover such appliances as: refrigerators, ovens, built-in microwaves, ranges, clothes washer and dryer, dishwashers and more. Appliance coverage provides repair or replacement of appliance covered items due to breakdown from normal wear and tear.
Saving energy in your home saves you money and helps your home systems and systems last longer. At ARWHome we have appliance protection plans for most of your appliances. With ARWHome protection plans, homeowners experience prompt and professional customer service, immediate service for emergencies issues, and efficient response to a request for service within 24-48 hours. Check out ARWHome warranties to find out which appliance warranty suits your needs.