4 Energy Efficient Home Upgrades When Renovating a Home
4 Energy Efficient Home Upgrades When Renovating a Home
Aug 20, 2019 by Lauren Norris
A house isn’t just a home. It’s a long term investment. To protect that investment, you need to reinvest into it from time to time through renovations. Today, one of the smartest renovation projects you can take on is making your home more energy efficient. Doing so doesn’t only help the environment. It can help your bottom line by slashing your monthly utility bills. Below are four energy efficient home upgrades you should consider.
Solar Panels
Although it may seem a bit cliché, one great option you should consider to raise your home’s energy efficiency is to install solar panels. Solar panels can be installed on the roof or anywhere else with an unobstructed view of the sun. While solar energy is unlikely to replace all your energy needs, it can certainly be a huge energy supplement that lowers your utility bills across the board especially if you live in a sunny place.
Energy Efficient Windows
Windows are one of part of your home that can be upgraded to more energy efficient models. Old windows tend to leak a lot of air around the edges. As such, they can force your furnace to run harder in the winter and your air conditioner to run harder in the summer to keep your home at the right temperature. A replacement window with the right efficiency rating, on the other hand, will leak virtually no air and help you save a good deal on your monthly bills.
LED Lights
Some home upgrades are easier than others. One that is rather simplistic is swapping out old light bulbs. Traditional incandescent light bulbs burn hot and use a lot of energy. LED lights, on the other hand, use a whopping 75 percent less energy. They also last longer than incandescent lights as well. Switching to LEDs is an easy and effective upgrade you may be able to finish in a single afternoon.
Weather Stripping
Similar to windows, doors tend to leak a lot of air. One cause of this occurs when old weather stripping on the bottom a door becomes frayed or damaged. Make repairs or replace the weather stripping entirely to ensure that no air is being leaked to the outside. Look for weather stripping that is graded specifically for energy efficiency.Every homeowner should perform renovations form time to time. One great choice is to take on projects that increase your home’s energy efficiency. Doing so can raise your home’s value and decrease your monthly utility bills. The list above is only a starting point.Kara Masterson is a freelance writer from Utah. She enjoys Tennis and spending time with her family.
