With energy prices soaring, there’s never been a better time to make your Southern California home more energy efficient. Not only is making your home more energy efficient better for the environment, but it will also save you money in the long term (and in some cases right away!). It will also increase the value of your home.
Below, we’ve outlined 9 ways to make your home more energy efficient.
Solar Panels
There is no way better way to make your home more energy efficient than installing solar panels. Not only will you be saving money by creating your own power, you will also be increasing the value of your home!
While there are many ways to reduce consumption, solar panels are the only way to truly control the cost of your energy. Plus, you will lessen your reliance on fossil fuels and the utility companies. This is a big deal since energy costs are expected to soar 80% in the coming years.
When you own your own solar panels you will pay as much as 66% less for each kilowatt hour!
In order to take full advantage of the cost and home value benefits of solar panels, make sure to buy and not lease your panels. While it may seem more affordable to lease panels over buying them, nothing could be further from the truth!
- Cost of leasing per kwh: $.18/kwh (plus the lease increases 3% every year)
- Cost of buying per kwh: $.06/kwh (sometimes less!)
There was a time when solar power was an expensive proposition; no longer! When paired with a financing plan from Inter Faith Solar, anyone can afford to take back the power.
Install a Whole House Fan
While air conditioners are great, it is often still an uphill battle to cool down your home. Without proper ventilation hot, stale air will stick around, making the air conditioner have to work long and hard to cool your house down.
A whole house fan will solve this problem. Acting as an exhaust system for your home, whole house fans suck the hot air out of your house to make room for cooler air from outside. This lets your air conditioner run less to get your home to the temperature you want, saving you on energy costs and wear on your AC unit.
Inter Faith uses only green, quiet whole house fans, making your home even more energy efficient!
Add Insulation to Your Attic or Walls
Good insulation will allow you to more effectively control the climate in your home. Without proper insulation, your air conditioning will seep out during the summer, and your heat will leak during the winter. Don’t let this happen!
A lot of homes already have insulation in their walls, but make sure they’re properly installed for the best results.
Attics are rarely insulated. While it may not seem as important, insulating your unfinished attic will pay for itself in heating and cooling costs.
Don’t Wash with Hot Water
90% of the energy needed to wash clothes generally goes into heating the water. By washing with cold water, you will cut your energy consumption and save hundred of dollars a year.
Modern detergents are formulated to work with both cold and warm water, so there is no reason to be wasting energy when it’s no longer needed. While heavily soiled items may require hot water, keep most loads of laundry cool!
Seal or Replace Old Windows
Nothing wastes energy like old, inefficient windows! Leaky windows allow cold or warm air to escape, making your units work harder to achieve the same temperature inside.
While it’s often not cost-effective to replace windows solely for the purpose of saving energy, if your windows are old and leaky it’s likely time to replace them anyways. Make sure to use Energy Star-rated windows The price difference is small, but you’ll make it back in saved energy costs.
There are many energy-efficient windows on the market today. Double pane windows are a great option. You could also install storm windows or weatherstripping to increase the efficiency of your existing windows. Additionally, make sure all of your windows are sealed!
Plant Shade Trees
For older, poorly insulated houses, trees and other vegetation can be an effective way to keep your house cool in the summer time. The shade from the trees will block the infrared radiation that would heat up your house.
For homes without any vegetation, planting trees on the west side of your house will save you on cooling costs. It will also make your home look beautiful!
Replace Incandescent Bulbs with LED Lights
It seems small, but replacing your incandescent bulbs with light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs can save you 75% on your lightings costs. While most people don’t think about it, you spend a lot more on the money to light a bulb than the bulb itself.
In addition to the costs savings, you will also have to physically change the bulb less. LED bulbs last 25 times as long! Don’t spend more time changing bulbs when you can do less work for more savings.
Install A Storm Door
Even energy-efficient front and side doors can be helped by a storm door! Storm doors are installed in front of your existing doors, and are generally made from low-emissivity glass to give you an added layer of protection. In addition to protecting your door from the weather, they can help reduce energy loss, particularly if you are not ready to invest in a brand new door.
Tune Up Your HVAC System
A properly running HVAC system is necessary for an energy efficient home, particularly in Southern California! A yearly tune-up will ensure that your HVAC system is running smoothly and efficiently.
An annual tune-up will:
- Check that the thermostat is functioning correctly
- Ensure connections are properly tightened
- Lubricate all the moving parts
- Clean and maintain evaporator and condenser coils
- Clean and adjust the blower
In addition to ensuring your HVAC system is running efficiently, an annual check-up will reduce the amount of repairs needed and lengthen its life.
Use Energy Star Appliances
Appliances are a major source of energy use in every home. Finding appliances that save you energy will chip away at your energy consumption, lowering your energy use. Energy Star Appliances meet EPA energy-efficient specifications, and use 10-50% less energy than standard appliances.
Some products eligible for Energy Star ratings:
- Refrigerators
- Televisions
- Stoves
- Washers
- Air Conditioners
Are You Ready to Make Your Home More Energy Efficient?
Call Inter Faith Electric and Solar Installation today at (866) 245-1440. We travel throughout Southern California to instal and maintain the highest quality residential solar panels. Contact us today to find out how we can help you become more energy efficient!
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