Make a More Energy Efficient Home with These 9 Easy Tips

Everyone wants to have a more energy efficient home – it helps your house feel comfortable year round and you’ll save money on your energy bills. If you live in the Midwest, this is extremely important because of the unpredictable weather conditions. Plus, any way to save money should be welcomed.

There are many ways of making a more energy efficient home from changing the light bulbs, to replacing your windows, to adding attic insulation. We’ve come up with 9 ways to make a more energy efficient home. Let’s get started!

1. Replace Your Incandescent Bulbs With Fluorescent or LED Lights

Fluorescent light bulbs are a surefire way to lower your energy bills. Incandescent light bulbs work by heating the filament present in the bulb. This process uses more energy than fluorescent which generates light by sending an electrical discharge through an ionized gas.

Not only will you save money on your energy bills, but fluorescent bulbs last longer than incandescent bulbs. A typical light bulb lasts about 2,000 hours but fluorescent usually lasts about 6,000 to 15,000 hours. Some even last as long at 35,000 – that’s more than 17 times as long as an incandescent light bulb.

Another light bulb option is LED bulbs. They’re just as energy efficient as fluorescent bulbs and last 20,000 to 50,000 hours. While they were originally very expensive, the price has become more affordable over the last few years – costing less than $5 a bulb.

2. Install Vinyl Windows For a More Energy Efficient Home

If you really want a more energy efficient home, then installing vinyl windows is a necessity. Their double or triple pane, argon gas-filled glass and foam insulated frames are a great way to trap heated or cooled air in your home. This will make your home feel more comfortable no matter how hot or cold it is outside.

Not only will your home be more comfortable, but you’ll save money on your energy bills. Your furnace and air conditioner will face less stress trying to reach and maintain your desired temperature. This means they’ll be using less power and you’ll see the difference on your heating and electric bills.

While most other window materials offer double and triple pane windows, vinyl windows have the foam insulated frames you won’t find anywhere else. So if you’re thinking about getting wood or aluminum windows, you may want to reconsider.

3. Clean Your Air Ducts

Are your air ducts dusty or dirty? Have you not cleaned them in years? That could be causing you to spend more money on your bills and leaving your home uncomfortable.

By cleaning out your ducts, air will flow easier throughout your home. That helps reduce the amount of pressure your furnace and air conditioner face to maintain the temperature you set on your thermostat.

4. Get a Programmable Thermostat

Speaking of thermostats, getting a programmable thermostat is a great way to make a more energy efficient home. These thermostats give you the ability to set schedules so you’re not spending useless energy when no one’s home. Some smart thermostats, such as Nest, sense when there’s a lack of motion in your home and go into energy saver mode when you’re not around.

By being able to control your thermostat and create schedules when you’re not around, you’ll end up saving a lot of money on your energy bills. That means the thermostat will pay for itself in no time!

5. Look for Energy Star Appliances

In order for a product to be Energy Star Certified, it must be the best of the best in energy efficiency. They’ll use less power which will save you money on your electric bills.

Almost anything can be Energy Star Certified. From kitchen appliances, televisions, washers and dryers and even your windows. Make sure whenever you’re making a major purchase, you’re buying something Energy Star Certified to maximize your efforts of creating a more energy efficient home.

6. Replace Your Exterior Doors

Replacing your exterior doors is a great way to improve your home’s energy efficiency. Getting a steel or fiberglass entry door from Feldco guarantees you’ll trap heat or air in your home. This is because our doors have foam insulated cores.

Are you not ready to replace your home’s exterior door right now? You can still improve your entryway’s energy efficiency with an aluminum storm door. It’s installed on the outside of your entry door, creating an added layer of insulation.

Your patio doors can also have their energy efficiency improved as well. If you’re interested in a sliding patio door, you’ll want one made from vinyl because the frames are foam insulated. Also make sure the glass is double or triple paned and argon gas-filled. Treat it like a replacement window.

If you prefer swinging French patio doors, think of them like two entry doors. Steel and fiberglass are definitely the route to go as long as they’re foam insulated. Your furnace and air conditioner will thank you!

Your garage door is another exterior door that you shouldn’t forget about. You’ll want one made from steel that’s foam filled. That makes them durable, strong, wind resistant and, most importantly, energy efficient. All of these exterior doors combine to help make your home more energy efficient – they’ll pretty much pay for themselves over time.

7. Add Attic Insulation

Did you know that heat rises? It’s true. It’s important to make sure that you have a well insulated attic otherwise your heat will escape through your roof. This can be especially troublesome during especially the frigid winter months in the Midwest.

If you already have attic insulation, make sure it’s working effectively. Otherwise, you’ll lose a lot more heat than you think and you’ll see your heating bills skyrocket. This is a quick fix that can save you a lot of money.

8. Vinyl Siding Will Improve Your Home’s Energy Efficiency

Much like your roof, heat can easily escape through your walls. The best way to keep them insulated is with vinyl siding. It’s the most energy efficient home exterior cladding available – especially when you get your vinyl siding from Feldco.

Why is that?

There’s a foam insulation board installed beneath the panels of your siding. This wraps around your home and keeps it air tight so no heat or air can pass through your walls. You’ll love how much more comfortable your home is year round. You’ll love the extra money in your wallet even more!

These foam insulation boards aren’t something you can get with wood or aluminum siding. That’s why if you live in the Midwest where the weather can get extremely hot or cold, vinyl siding is your best home cladding option.

9. Unplug Your Electronics When You’re Not Using Them

When you’re not using your electronics, make sure you unplug them. This seems so simple but it’s necessary if you want a more energy efficient home. Turning them off isn’t enough because when they’re plugged in, they’re still draining power. This power is called phantom energy and it’s raising the price of your electric bill.

If you have everything plugged into a power surge protector or power strip, you can easily unplug that to ensure everything is unplugged. That way you’re not sifting through plugs to make sure you have what you want plugged in.

Making a More Energy Efficient Home

Making a more energy efficient home is easier than you think. Whether you need replacement windows or want to clean your air ducts, everything will pay for itself over time, saving you money on your bills.

If you need energy efficient windows, siding, doors or garage doors, get a free quote from Feldco. Our product specialists will make sure you get the perfect product for your home so you can start saving on your energy bills immediately.