Making your home or living space efficient doesn’t have to be a complicated endeavor. Instead, it should be a fun project that can help you teach your kids or friends some of the benefits of having an energy efficient living space.
6 Tips for a More Energy Efficient Home
① Buy Energy Efficient Shower Heads and Toilets
You can make your home more efficient by cutting down hot water use. Go for low flow showerheads that have a flow rate of 2.5 GPM or less. Interestingly, aerated and laminar are the two types of low flow shower heads.
Individuals living in humid climates should go for laminar low flow shower heads because they use individual streams or jets of water which prevents the formation of too much mist or moisture in the shower when compared to an aerated low flow shower head. Note that aerated shower heads use both air and jets of water forming a mist-filled spray.
Toilets use about 30% – 40% of all water consumed in households. Consider replacing the standard 3.5-gallon toilet with a modern low-flow 1.6-gallon toilet as this will allow you to enjoy water savings of up to 2 gallons per flush. With low-flow toilets, you can save up to 12,000 gallons of water yearly.
② Install cool roofs
Ever wondered if you could incorporate the feeling of wearing a nice floral outfit on a hot day in your house, well cool roofs give you that. By painting your roof white, you increase the solar reflectivity, bouncing back a greater percentage of solar radiation. This, in return, lowers the temperature of exterior surfaces thus reduced reliance on air conditioning. Roofs with membranes also provide you with the same effect.
③ Install HAVC Systems
What better way to regulate air quality and thermal temperature than HAVC systems? The system is able to automatically replenish oxygen while still heating and cooling your space. The system effectively saves on energy that would otherwise be used for air filters and separate air conditioning.
④ Insulate and Seal Your Home
Properly insulating your home will go a long way in making it comfortable and energy-efficient. Unlike other home remodeling projects, insulating your living space makes a great DIY project, and you can do it with the help of online tutorials if you lack prior home renovation or remodeling experience.
Hot air rises because it’s less dense after which it dissipates via the upper regions of your home. You should, therefore, ensure that your attic has the proper insulation. A well-insulated attic will prevent heated or cooled air from getting lost while simultaneously preventing hot or cold air from getting into your home via the attic.
The heated or cooled air can also escape from your home via electrical and piping outlets. Properly seal the regions around these outlets to make your home more energy-efficient. While you are at this, remember to seal and insulate the regions around your windows.
⑤ Energy Efficient Ways to Heat Water or Cool Your Home
Are you a first time home or property owner? If your answer is yes, you might not be aware that cooling and heating your home uses a lot of energy. Fortunately, you can reduce the amount of cash you’ll be spending on either heating or cooling your home by finding alternative ways to maintain your home’s temperature or use solar water heating systems to efficiently heat water.
A ducted heating system is also more efficient when compared to conventional heating systems. Ducted heating systems can zonally heat different regions of your home depending on your preferences. You can use this heating system to heat a particular room or area of the home, during a set time, on a set date. Visit SOD – home remodeling company in San Jose, CA for insight on the best solar water heating systems or ducted heating system that will efficiently heat the areas of your living space where you, and other occupants will be actively spending time.
⑥ Replace Incandescent Bulbs
Lighting is essential whether you live in a modern or classic-styled home. You can make your home energy efficient by replacing incandescent light bulbs with energy-efficient light bulbs. Incandescent bulbs use a lot of energy. Homeowners who use these types of bulbs rack up high electricity bills since these bulbs convert most of the energy they consume into heat.
LED bulbs to emit light brighter when compared to incandescent bulbs yet they use 70%-90% less energy than their counterparts. LED lights also last longer than incandescent bulbs. You will, therefore, use them for longer cycles before replacing them and this will allow you to make significant savings in the long run. As highlighted above, LED bulbs are energy efficient. Consequently, using these bulbs will help you lower your carbon footprint—this making the planet a safer and better place to live.
Ready to make 2021 an energy-conserving year for you? Now you know exactly where to start. If you have questions or suggestions, please enter them in the comments below. Also below, you will find links leading you to more informative articles about ALL things DESIGN.
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About the Author: Ashley Edwards
