Making your home as eco-friendly as possible is going to have a major impact on your finances in the coming years. In addition to reducing your monthly energy bills, these upgrades and renovations can also increase the value of your home by quite a bit. Here is a look at a handful of projects that will minimize your family’s carbon footprint and make your house more efficient than ever.
Invest in a Leak Detector
With an inexpensive thermal leak detector, you will be able to check your entire home for drafts and shoddy insulation. These small devices can be pointed at potentially problematic areas such as doorways, windows, vents, and pipes. Most of the leaks that you are going to find throughout your home can easily be taken care of with a caulking gun and all-purpose caulking. You can also purchase a few bottles of canned insulation for areas that are hard to reach.
Replace Older Appliances
Many household appliances are designed to last decades, but older devices will become very inefficient after a few years. As a general rule, major appliances should be replaced after a decade of use. That includes your refrigerator, washer, dryer, oven, and dishwasher. Inefficient appliances can increase your utility bills by hundreds of dollars every month. You need to make sure that you are following all maintenance and service instructions as well.
Unplug Unused Electronics
You might have dozens of different electronics plugged in throughout your home, and some of those devices will consume power even when you are not using them. The most effective way to put an end to these “vampire loads” is to unplug any devices that you aren’t using. You might also want to put timers on your electrical outlets that turn off at designated times. Laptops, smartphones, and other devices that have batteries tend to be the worst offenders.
Switch to Solar Energy
Installing solar panels could be a great investment that ends up saving you thousands. An experienced electrical contractor experienced in solar technology might be able to install one of these systems in just a few weeks, and most panels require little or no maintenance. Before your system is installed, the contractor should be able to give you a rough estimate of how much you are going to save each month. In some areas, a solar water heater might be more practical than solar panels.
Turning your home into an eco-friendly palace is an ongoing process, and you will always be able to find new ways to reduce your carbon footprint. While some of these projects might take some time, they could end up saving you an incredible amount of money.