How to improve your home’s efficiency - Spectora Home

Written by Spectora | Mar 18, 2021 4:17:08 PM

Spending money on bills each month is such a drag, why can’t utilities just be free? I know my electricity and water bills are typically the most expensive – so I did some research on how to lower them.

Improving your home’s efficiency can make a big difference for the planet – and save you money!

Cheap (or free) home efficiency tips

Turn off the lights during the day – natural light is free & can improve your mood!
Replace lightbulbs with LED bulbs. Why is LED better? Check out this article from Direct Energy
Turn off your dishwasher’s heated dry cycle and let your dishes air dry instead.
Use bathroom & kitchen fans sparingly. Turn them off once you’re comfortable – they replace indoor air with outdoor air which means more work for your A/C or heater.
Use lamps instead of overhead lights when you don’t need a ton of light. Lamps use less energy than overhead lights, especially if you have LED bulbs installed.
Wash clothes & linens in cold water instead of hot – and wash in warm instead of hot if your washing requires warmer water.
Use an outdoor grill with a propane tank instead of the stove – this will save electricity and gas.
Dress for the weather when indoors. On colder days, wear more layers instead of cranking the heat. On warmer days, open the windows if the A/C isn’t on and wear minimal layers.
Use washers, dryers & dishwashers at night – this will keep your home from heating up during warmer days, & will use less electricity (avoid peak usage hours 4PM – 6PM)
Turn off lights in rooms you aren’t using
Unplug unnecessary electronics when you aren’t using them
Charge your phone before bed & leave it unplugged through the night. This is actually better for your phone’s battery life, and will help it last longer!
Use the dishwasher instead of hand washing – dishwashers use less water, but make sure to run it on full loads only.

Home improvements to increase efficiency

Seal outside doors, window frames, and areas around vents with weatherstripping or caulk. This will keep the hot or cold air from entering your home & increasing the need for heat or A/C.
Invest in energy efficient appliances. Installing efficient
Clean or replace filters regularly. Dirty or old filters make your home’s systems less efficient & increase how long they run for.
Replace single-pane windows with double-pane ones. Single-pane windows have less insulation, allowing outside temperatures to influence indoor temperatures.
Install a programmable thermostat – once programmed, it will automatically adjust to stay at the temperature you want. This will improve your heating and cooling costs.
Improve your attic’s insulation. Replacing or installing additional insulation in your attic helps keep the air in your home where you want it
Replace old doors and windows. Weather stripping and sealant are a great fix, but investing in new frames, windows and doors is a sure fix
Install ceiling fans in bedrooms and common spaces. Ceiling fans help circulate air, and help warm or cool a home depending on which system is running.

Replace old faucets & fixtures with water saving ones that are “green.” This will save money on water & electricity bills.

Is your home efficient?

If you’ve made these improvements and your bills are still costing a fortune, getting a home inspection or an energy audit is worth looking into. Some homes aren’t built with proper insulation & weatherproofing – which reduces efficiency.

Even changing your daily habits & being conscious of the electricity and water you use can make a big difference. So turn off those lights!

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