Steps to Follow for an Energy Saving Home

During the past two decades, more and more people have started to understand the importance of saving energy. With this increased awareness has come a proliferation of information, as well as products and appliances which enable us to save energy in our homes.

Some people are motivated to save energy in order to reduce their utility bills. Others are motivated to help the environment. Still others want to increase the value of their home, or make it more attractive to buyers. But regardless of your motivation, saving energy is a win-win-win-win situation.

Some easy ways to reduce energy use immediately include the following:

• Replace traditional light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs, which use only 1/4 of the electricity compared to incandescent light bulbs.
• Use the energy-saving mode - or reduce the thermostat - on all household appliances, including the refrigerator, dishwasher, washing machine, and clothes dryer.
• Clean or replace filters on the furnace, air-conditioner and heat pump.

Some more involved ways to save energy:

• Apply caulk or weather-stripping to leaky windows and doors.
• Have your heating and cooling systems serviced or repaired as necessary. Replace older systems with new, energy-efficient models.
• Inspect your home to ensure that you have adequate insulation.
• Insulate hot water pipes and air ducts, especially if they run through unheated areas.
• Replace old appliances (fridge, stove, dishwasher, washing machine and clothes dryer) with new, energy-efficient ones.

To find out where your home is wasting energy, and to get specific recommendations for improving your home's energy efficiency, schedule a home energy audit now.

While a home energy audit usually pays for itself within 6 months to a year with the resulting energy savings, many of the recommended improvements require an up-front investment. These invesments will also pay for themselves over time. While you may not be able to complete all the recommended improvements right away, your home energy auditor will help you prioritize the projects according to need and budget restrictions. Keep in mind that energy conservation is an ongoing process of continual improvement.