How To Make Your Property More Energy Efficient Making a home energy efficient is very advantageous for homeowners, and the same goes for rental property owners. For starters, it saves money in the form of reduced power bills, while simultaneously keeping the comfort level indoors at maximum. It also reduces the negative impacts human activity has on climate change; uncontrolled energy use has a significant contribution to global warming and air, soil, and water pollution. For these reasons, you have an obligation as a property owner to increase energy efficiency in your property. Here are 5 top tips to help your property be more efficient: Upgrade or replace windows If your property has leaky windows, it is best that you repair them or replace them with more quality windows. This is a low-cost home remodeling project that will save you a lot of money in the long run. If you opt to repair, weather-stripping is a good choice to go with. It is almost never cost-effective to replace windows just to save energy. If you go for a replacement, installing double-glazed windows is both cost-effective and beneficial in the long run. And even if replacing windows doesn’t seem like a very cost-effective way of increasing your comfort levels, it sure is a good investment for boosting a property resale value. Limit indoor heating Your space heaters might make your home comfortable and warm, but they are a major culprit in draining your energy bills. A single heater can waste more than 1000 watts of energy in a single run. If you must use a heater, find an energy-efficient thermostat. If you don’t live in a constantly chilly environment, the best idea is to consider other form of heating such as adding an extra layer of clothing or a blanket. Another unnecessary heating in a home is every-day cleaning with hot water. Running the washing machine consumes a significant amount of energy. If you are fine washing with cold or warm water, by all means, use it. Install fans or smart thermostats Set your thermostat at a temperature that’s not too warm during summer and not too cold during winter- just enough to keep you comfortable. That will save you costs on heating and cooling even if the occupants won’t be too comfortable. If that is too much to ask, your other option would be to install a smart or programmable thermostat- a thermostat that can regulate your indoor temperatures as per your needs. You can program them to know when no one is home or when the temperature changes, so they readjust accordingly. You can also attain your preferred indoor using ceiling fans. These are not as effective as air conditioners but they are very affordable to buy and maintain. Change your bulbs Lighting accounts for up to 10% of the energy bills of an average household that uses traditional incandescent lights. These bulbs convert over 90% of the energy they receive into heat, and only about 10% into light. Modern bulbs e.g. the light-emitting diodes (LEDs), on the other hand, consume only about 25% of the energy incandescent bulbs consume. Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) use about 50% of the energy that incandescent bulbs consume, yet they are brighter. Modern lighting technologies are also more durable than the older technologies. If you can afford to install smart lighting that can turn on or off depending on lighting needs in the house, you will be able to save a little more bucks. Replace old appliances If your fridge, dishwasher, dryer, or stove is too old and run down, then it probably is responsible for wasting energy in the house. It is time to shop for appliances that have the Energy Star label- these are the most energy-efficient appliances in the market today. If you cannot replace them due to budget constraints, then find out why they use too much energy and make the necessary repairs. Conclusion Start reducing how much energy your home or rental property uses and make the necessary amends as early as now. It is your duty to make that energy cleaner. You don’t need a big budget for that; all you need is a plan on how you will be replacing appliances and making changes one at a time.
