How To Make Your Home More Energy Efficient

The best way to find out how to make your home more energy efficient is to schedule a home energy audit. You will get a detailed, custom report that is based on a thorough examination of your home using diagnostic equipment, visual assessment by a certified, trained auditor who knows exactly what to look for, and an analysis of your energy bills. You will find out exactly where the problem areas are in your home, which areas are causing the most energy waste, and get specific recommendations for how to fix them.

If you're not ready to have a customized analysis, here are some generic ways to make your home more energy efficient.

• Insulate your water heater and pipes. Your water heater is constantly heating water so it's hot when you need it. If your water heater is not insulated, the heat in the water dissipates into the air and the water cools, requiring more energy to keep the water hot. An insulated water heater keeps the heated water hot, requiring less energy.
• Switch to a tankless water heater. As the name implies, a tankless water heater has no tank, so it isn't constantly heating water. Instead, it heats water on demand which is much more energy efficient.
• Insulate air ducts. Your furnace (or central air conditioner) heats (or cools) air and pushes it through the ducts to the various parts of your home. Along the way, the air loses some of the heat (or cold), requiring the furnace (or air conditioner) to work harder in order to maintain a comfortable temperature in your home. Insulated ductwork keeps more of the heat (or cold) from dissipating, so your furnace (or air conditioner) doesn't have to work as hard, which saves you energy - and money.
• Get Low-E windows. Windows are a big source of energy loss from your home. However, modern technology has developed ways to reduce the energy lost through windows. Low-E windows reduce heat transfer, which keeps your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, putting less demand on your air conditioner and furnace. While Low-E windows cost more initially, you will save money in the long run with lower energy bills each month.
• Install compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL). Replacing the incandescent bulbs in your home with compact fluorescent light bulbs will save you 25 percent on your lighting costs, while providing the same amount of light. Newer CFL's provide softer light than the original CFL's, and last 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs.
• Use ENERGY STAR appliances. Your fridge, stove, dishwasher, clothes washer and dryer use a lot of energy. By replacing your current appliances with ENERGY STAR rated appliances, you can save significant amounts of money each month.