Home Improvements to Increase Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency relies on many different parts of your home, not just your HVAC system. With these home improvements, you can increase your efficiency, decrease your energy consumption and also save money.
Attic Insulation
Pound for pound, attic insulation is probably the most economically-sound home improvement you can make. This applies to literally any improvement you might consider, whether it is to improve your energy efficiency or just make your home a bit more competitive on the selling market. Adding attic insulation to your home costs a bit over $1,000, and you may get back every penny in an increased home value. You do not have to replace existing insulation, if it is in good shape. Extra insulation will put a hold on heat transfer, which is what causes your air conditioner to work harder in summer and your furnace in winter.
HVAC Maintenance
Some improvements are less obvious, but also have noticeable increases in efficiency once you are done. If your Sacramento HVAC system uses ductwork, you are probably losing as much as 20-30 percent of the air through leaks in the ducts. This is an expensive waste that can boost your utility bills and decrease the lifespan of your HVAC equipment, which has to struggle to make up for the loss. Duct sealing is a simple improvement with immediate benefits. If you also seal air leaks throughout your home’s exterior, you will enjoy better heating during the winter and a higher level of air quality in the home.
Energy Star Appliances
Of course, most of your energy consumption comes through the various appliances in the home. Home buyers of all ages list appliances with the Energy Star label as essential or desirable in homes they want to buy, for a simple reason: Energy efficiency saves money, takes pressure off a taxed civic energy provider and decreases unnecessary energy consumption. By purchasing appliances with the Energy Star label, you are committing to a higher rate of efficiency that will make a difference with each appliance you buy. You may also qualify for tax rebates on certain types, as well.
Specialty Upgrades
If you want to dramatically increase your energy efficiency, you may need to reconsider the way you get heating and cooling, or the way you use energy entirely. Certain technologies, such as solar panels, can allow you to produce some of your own energy for your personal use. Other systems, such as a geothermal heat pump, can cut your energy consumption by a significant margin. Geothermal heat pumps use the relatively stable temperature of the earth to aid in transferring heat into and out of the home. These heat pumps are quite robust, with equipment that might last as long as 50 years.
Taking your energy efficiency to the next level requires some creative thinking and some home improvements, ranging from minor to major. With the investment of $1,000 or tens of thousands of dollars, you will appreciate a lower carbon footprint and a smaller energy bill. Ask us at Ace Plumbing for more information about your home’s energy efficiency.