5 Tips for Reducing Home Energy Usage and Costs

All homeowners are concerned about their energy usage and costs. Not only does wasted energy harm the environment significantly, increasing your carbon footprint, but also it can get extremely expensive, as energy costs are constantly rising. Instead of wasting energy and spending more money than necessary, some simple changes around your home can make a tremendous difference in your energy use. Here are 5 tips for reducing home energy usage and costs.

1. Seal all windows and doors properly. As the temperature cools and warms, your home’s materials will expand and contract. This especially impacts your home’s external facing windows and doors leaving behind holes, gaps and cracks. These spaces let in drafts that reduce home energy efficiency. Solve this problem by applying indoor caulk around the edges of the door and window frames.
2. Insulate your home adequately. Many homes do not have enough insulation in walls, attics or basements. Check to make sure your insulation is effective and thick enough. Over time, some insulation may deteriorate or wear down. If you don’t have enough, you should consider adding another layer to make sure the air from your HVAC system stays inside where it belongs. If you don’t have proper insulation, cool or warm air will escape, causing your heating and cooling systems to work harder and burn more energy to keep your home at a comfortable temperature to match your thermostat setting.
3. Switch over to energy-efficient light bulbs. These bulbs are designed to use less energy to power your lights just as brightly, saving you money on energy bills each month. While these bulbs are bit more expensive to buy up front, you will save money in the long run on utility bill savings. Plus, these bulbs last a whole lot longer, meaning you don’t have to buy bulbs or change bulbs as frequently throughout the year.
4. Keep your thermostat set to 75 degrees in the summer months and 65 degrees in the winter time. Often homeowners are quick to crank the AC or heat to get instant results. While this is convenient, it can be a huge waste of energy and money. Instead, set your thermostats to appropriate, reasonable temperatures. In the summer, 75 is ideal since it is cool enough to live inside comfortably. In the winter, 65 degrees is warm enough that you can feel okay while wearing a few layers of clothing around the house to stay warm.
5. Utilize ceiling fans in your home. If you don’t already have ceiling fans, it may be a smart investment. If you do, you can take advantage of them in both the summer and winter months. In the summer, fans circulate the air in your home and will help make you feel cooler, meaning you can use less energy to cool your home. In the winter, the fans also circulate air to even out the warm temperature and send hot air that has risen, down to floor level where you can enjoy it.

These tips will help you to considerably reduce your at-home energy use. Plus, they are simple and easy to utilize changes that work immediately and don’t require much work or effort. If you are noticing signs that it may be time for a furnace replacement, you may want to make changes around your home to ensure your new furnace’s longevity and quality remain intact.