With all the time spent indoors because of COVID-19, people have become more and more aware of how their homes can be improved. Energy efficiency is not only cost effective, it’s more sustainable and healthy for the planet as well! This month, join us for a few quick tips on how you can save energy for reduced bills and a cleaner planet!  

Light Bulbs- By switching from fluorescent light bulbs to LED, you can save much more energy in the long run. Fluorescent might be cheaper on the front end, but LED light bulbs are the most energy efficient on the market and can last for 40,000 hours or more! You’re essentially using less electricity for the same light output- about 85% less!

Sealing Your Home- Air can leak both in and out of your home through cracks and faulty sealing. That means more energy is wasted keeping the house at a comfortable temperature. Start by checking all entrance and exit points for ill-fitting doors and windows. Make sure to caulk and seal all places where plumbing and electrical devices enter your home. Check out energy.gov for more maintenance tips.

Unplug Devices- Unplug your chargers, blenders, hairdryers, and other electrical appliances when not in use. Even if they’re not being used, they are plugged into the wall and still use electricity! Called “Energy Vampires,” these electricity-suckers can be a big source of wasted energy.

Tankless Water Heater- A typical water heater has a tank that heats water throughout the day. Whenever hot water is needed, there is some available. However, that means the tank is using energy to heat the tank all day! A tankless water heater, by contrast, only heats water when there is demand. This way, much less energy is expended! Williams Comfort Air goes into detail about the difference between tank and tankless, and which you should choose based on your home.

Programmable Thermostat- Much energy is wasted when people aren’t home. If your home is heated when you aren’t there, you’re wasting valuable heat and energy. By using a programmable thermostat, you can set the temperature for specific times and avoid spending energy when you don’t need it. With a programmable thermostat, the savings stack up year round!

Solar Panels- While installing solar panels isn’t exactly a simple process, the benefits far outway the hassle of getting them in. The energy from solar panels is much cleaner than other sources of energy, and by installing them you can drastically reduce your electricity bill every month. This solar savings calculator will help you estimate how much money you can save by installing solar panels. See an outline of all of the benefits to solar energy besides the money saving and the environment.

These are only a few ways you can upgrade your home to improve your energy efficiency! You can get an energy audit for your home, free, at sustainableconnections.org. Doing the research yourself helps get the ball rolling, but if you have any questions about home improvement projects or upgrades, don’t hesitate to contact us! Highline is committed to creating an efficient, beautiful, and sustainable world, one house at a time.