Twelve Tips to Making a Home Energy Efficient

Making your home more energy efficient can help to reduce high energy bills, improve comfort and help to protect the environment. Here are twelve tips to become more energy efficient and save money.

•  Invest in a cool gadget like a programmable thermostat. Set thermostats at 78°F in the summer and 68°F in the winter. A programmable thermostat can save you about $180 every year in energy costs.
• Install Low-flow shower heads: Simply by installing low-flow shower heads and faucet aerators ($10 to $20 each), you’ll cut your hot water consumption by 25% to 60%. 
• Insulate Your Hot Water Tank: If you have an older tank, and especially if it’s located in an unheated space, wrapping it with an insulating blanket is a cheap and easy way to reduce costs.
• Insulate Exposed Hot-Water Pipes and By insulating your hot water pipes and heater, water will arrive at the faucet 2 to 4 degrees warmer, which means you won’t have to wait as long for it to heat up, thus saving energy, water, and money.
•  Use LED's in your recessed ceiling lights, stairwell lights and inconvenient fixtures. It’s an 80% energy
  
  savings over incandescent bulbs, the LED bulb life is up to 50,000 hours longer than CFL's.

According to Georgia Power, residential heating and cooling systems account for as much as 52 percent of your home’s energy use.  This means a poorly maintained heating and air system can increase your energy bill dramatically.

• Change your air filter regularly.
• At a minimum change the filter every 3 months, but during heavy use months (summer & winter) check your filter every month to see if it is dirty enough to change.
• Have heating and cooling systems professionally serviced once a year to keep them running as efficiently as possible.
•  Seal your heating and cooling ducts. Gaps in joints and at plenums can cause your heating and cooling bills to increase by as much as 30% and can allow air contaminants to enter the home.
• Make sure all air registers or floor vents are clear of furniture so that the air can circulate freely. If your home has radiators, place heat-resistant reflectors between radiators and walls. In the winter, this will help heat the room instead of the wall.
•  Install a properly sized ENERGY STAR qualified ventilation fan in the bathroom to control moisture in the air while you shower or bathe, as well as control mold and mildew growth. Run your fan for 15 minutes after showering.
•   Install insulation in your attic. This is a fairly easy DIY project that will really make a difference in your energy and comfort of your home.

Improving energy efficiency is an important first step for homeowners interested in green remodeling. To find out more on home to becoming a more energy efficient home, and qualify for energy tax rebates go to the Energy Star website.