Your home is easily your most significant investment and therefore requires some tweaks, home improvements, or renovations from time to time. But although it is essential to make regular upgrades, it is equally necessary to ensure that each improvement you make does not become a financial burden on you or reduce your home’s value. One of the most critical areas of your home that requires attention when it comes to upgrades is the area of energy consumption. That is because energy consumption usually takes up a considerable chunk of household budgets and comes with adverse effects on the environment. So, are you thinking about making some upgrades to your home anytime soon? Then consider the following tips to help make your improvements more energy-saving and save money.
Opt for renewable energy systems
Renewable energy tech options will help you provide electricity or warm up your home without needing to burn up fossils. There is a wide variety of options to choose from when it comes to renewable energy systems. These include using solar panels, heat pumps, etc.
Solar panels may be a bit costly to install, but they will end up saving you lots of money on your electric bills long-term while protecting the environment also. If you live in New Jersey, you can signup with community solar, as this will make it even easier and less expensive to adopt clean and renewable energy. You can also use a heat pump system to replace your conventional heating system to enjoy many benefits. Aside from the fact that you will benefit from reduced energy costs, you will also be able to provide a much-improved level of comfort for your family.
Loft insulations
You can end up losing about a quarter of your home’s heat if you do not put the proper loft insulation in place. And this represents up to about 30% of your home’s heat. That is because a lot of the heat your HVAC system can generate can be lost through your roofing.
Beyond loft insulations, you can also make the needed improvements in your wall and floor insulation options where necessary. You can lose about 35% of your home’s heat through your walls if you do not have the proper wall insulation installed. There are various ways to insulate your walls. And these include internal, external, and cavity wall insulations.
When it comes to floor insulation, your home can lose up to about 10% of its heat if the floor insulation system is not done right – or not done at all. However, depending on the design or construction of the floor of your home, you may not be able to upgrade its insulation.
Upgrade your windows
Giving your windows the right upgrade comes with several benefits for your home and your family. For starters, the more windows you have, the more you’ll be able to bring in loads of natural light during the day, which will not only help cut down on your light bills, but your family will be able to enjoy the benefits of natural light. Furthermore, upgrading your windows means you should be able to let in more fresh air during the day, making you less reliant on artificial ventilation options during warm systems.
Additionally, if you can get your windows adequately sealed, you should be able to prevent heat loss from leaking through spaces in and around your windows. And if you cannot afford to install new windows, you can always find ways of making the ones you already have more energy-efficient with some very simple hacks. For example, you can tape a clear plastic sheet in the inner areas of the window frame. Doing this will help to reduce drafts. You can also opt for window shades as a way of protecting against heat waves or cold drafts.
LED lighting
LED lighting offers arguably one of the (if not the most) easiest energy-saving upgrades you can make to your home. Can any upgrade be simpler than purchasing some energy-saving bulb and fixing them? But as simple as led bulbs are, they will end up saving you a considerable amount on your light bills. And when you combine this option with your upgraded windows bringing in enough natural lights, you will be doing your home and your family a lot of good. An LED light bulb uses about 70% less energy than the other light bulbs. Plus, they can also last at least 25 times longer than the traditional incandescent lighting you may be used to.