The 8 Best Home Energy Efficiency Improvements You Can Make
Homeowners who want to improve the efficiency of their property should ask themselves these two related questions: which upgrades will save the most money on energy costs and which will add the most value to my house? Choosing simpler upgrades may be the best initial course of action. For example, adding sealant around windows and installing weather stripping around doors is inexpensive and these “quick fixes” can significantly reduce heating and cooling costs. The only drawback of these “quick fixes” is they will not add much value to a property.
On the other hand, people tend to shy away from larger energy efficient home improvements unless they are absolutely necessary. The high price tags may lead them to ignore the fact that these improvements can add significant value to their home.
To help bridge the gap of the higher cost of energy efficient upgrades and empower homeowners to enjoy the added value to their home there is a program called PACE. With property assessed clean energy (PACE) financing options now available in select states throughout America, it's easier for homeowners to pay for larger upgrades, which can both add value to a home and bring about lower month-to-month energy costs. PACE programs make it possible to pay for improvement projects over time (as a line item on annual property tax bills) with no upfront costs. With this financing option in mind, here are eight of the best energy efficiency improvements you can make at home. If you already know you're interested in seeing if your energy efficiency home improvement projects qualify for Ygrene financing through PACE, click below to get pre-approved within less than 30 minutes.
Get Financing For Your Energy Efficiency Home Projects Today
1. Replace High-Energy Appliances with More Efficient Versions
Homes over 15 years old may benefit from a new air conditioner, furnace, or boiler. Generally speaking, heating systems that are more than 15 to 20 years old are inefficient by today’s standards. And because of all the recent developments in the air conditioning industry, cooling systems more than a decade old are candidates for replacement. Even some of the cheaper central air conditioning and heating systems on the market are more efficient than high-end models installed a mere 15 years ago.
Wise homeowners combine the installation of new equipment with other improvements, such sealing doors and windows, adding more insulation and improving ductwork. In doing this, they can see their energy savings begin to add up.
Keep in mind that while the systems that can help add value to your home and be covered under the PACE program are items such as heating systems there are many appliances that are more energy efficient that can help you to save. When looking at energy efficient home appliance improvements you can look at nearly every appliance from your refrigerator, television, water heater and much more. Take the time to look at the Energy Star ratings for any appliance you place in your home.
2. Install a Programmable Thermostat
A programmable thermostat enhances heating and cooling efficiency by enabling homeowners to set their climate control systems so that they can achieve optimal temperature for minimal cost. A programmable thermostat makes it possible to turn the temperature down when no one is at home or when everyone is in bed. Also, once you program the thermostat, it will automatically alter the temperature with no other manual adjustments required.
Modern Thermostats such as the Nest, Ecobee, and others leverage artificial intelligence to help your home improvements such as heating and air conditioning give you true energy savings. Even if you haven’t put in a new heating or cooling system you can still gain efficiency in your energy usage by installing a programmable smart thermostat.
3. Add an Extra Layer of Insulation in the Attic
How much insulation does a house truly need? The U.S. Department of Energy has created a fact sheet to help homeowners decide if their insulation is sufficient for their given climate. Newer homes are often well insulated, while houses several decades old (or older) can often benefit from an upgrade. Because “hot air rises,” the attic is one of the biggest culprits when it comes to heat loss. Even some newer homes do not contain sufficient insulation in the room below the roof. In an under-insulated home, an extra layer of insulation could lead to savings and allow a homeowner to recoup costs in a mere four or five years.
4. Install New Doors and Windows (or Seal the Current Ones)
By adding weather stripping or caulking around windows, a property owner can eliminate drafts and make a home cheaper to heat or cool. In fact, according to the Energy Star program, homeowners could save up to 20% on their heating and cooling costs by sealing up air leaks which could be quite the savings!
If taking the step to simply caulk around windows is so effective, why would anyone want to spend the extra money to install new windows or a new front door? In buildings that feature older single-pane windows, sealing around the frame may not be enough.
Newer window models do a much better job at keeping the interior temperature regulated because they do not allow much hot or cold air to escape. Windows with wood frames or wood-clad frames offer the best value when it comes to insulation. They are, unfortunately, slightly more expensive than vinyl or aluminum models, but could be worth the higher price – especially if the window upgrade qualifies for PACE financing.
5. Enhance Air Conditioning with Ceiling Fans
Ceiling fans are more than decoration; they create a gentle, pleasant breeze. More importantly, they help to circulate air around your home, which is useful both in the summer and in the winter. These fans cost cents per day to power – much less than the cost of running an air conditioner.
6. Make the Water System More Efficient
There are a few ways to save on costs associated with a home’s water supply. Installing low-flow plumbing fixtures – showerheads, faucets, and toilets – use the minimum amount of water needed to get the job done. Some models are adjustable, so whoever is using them can manually set their preferences. Another positive trait of low-flow shower and faucet fixtures is that they are relatively cheap to install. They will pay for themselves in a few months with the money saved on water bills. A new water heater is a more expensive, yet potentially more valuable upgrade.
Tankless water heaters produce hot water on demand rather than keeping it hot around the clock, thereby using much less energy (gas or electricity are the most common). Standard water heaters have improved over the past decade in terms of efficiency, which means that nearly any upgrade will likely result in water and energy savings.
7. Improve the Lighting
Saving money on lighting could be as easy as switching to LED or CFL bulbs as part of your energy efficient home improvement goals. New light fixtures can help you to save as lighting can account for up to one-third of a home’s overall electricity bill. Natural light is another option for reducing reliance on electricity. Aside from adding value to a home, skylights or larger windows can be a great option for cooler climates because they let more direct sunlight into the home’s interior. This increases passive solar gain, adding free natural warmth during the winter.
8. Replace Kitchen Equipment
Many potential homebuyers pay special attention to kitchens; therefore home improvement experts tell home sellers to focus on remodeling these areas. Because refrigerators and ovens are major energy users, investing in the most efficient models (an Energy Star-rated fridge and a convection oven) will save money immediately while also adding to the resale value of the home.
And don’t forget the smaller appliances as part of your energy efficient home improvement plan. For example, your dishwasher might not be the focal point of your kitchen remodel but selecting an energy star rated dishwasher can result in lower costs to operate at just $35 annually and save you an average of 3,870 gallons of water over its lifetime.
Not Sure Which Energy Efficient Home Improvements Are Best For You? Get an Energy Audit
All of these improvements lead to energy savings, and most will also add value to the home, but which will work best for your home can be challenging to determine. Homeowners who want to be certain that they are not missing any obvious improvements can enlist the help of an efficiency inspector. Energy providers may actually send an inspector to the home for free (or for a nominal fee). This expert will inspect the property and recommend the best improvements to amplify a home’s efficiency – ultimately saving the homeowner money and energy. Once you know what types of energy efficiency home improvement projects you want to do, let Ygrene finance them for you.
Get Financing Approval For Your Energy Efficiency Home Projects
Do energy-efficient upgrades appeal to you? Find out if PACE financing is available in your area – contact Ygrene: (855) 901-3999; info@ygreneworks.com.
