As you near the end of summer, you go through a similar set of activities as you did with spring cleaning, but with an effort to ready your home for chillier temperatures. You can make cleaning your home easier by making a few energy-efficient upgrades. Not only will they save you money, but some of them also block dirt and debris from entering your home.
Get an Energy Audit
Have an energy audit conducted on your home. Many utility companies offer these for free. An audit can uncover many problems with your home that you can easily address to save money and reduce energy use.
Replace Your HVAC
Although you may not think of them in tandem, your heat and air conditioning unit (HVAC) work together to handle your interior climate. One of the most vital items an audit can uncover is when you need to replace your HVAC. Your air conditioning comprises about 12% of your home energy expenditures if you reside in the US. Purchasing a new HVAC unit at the end of summer can net you a fantastic deal since it comprises their off-season. It also ensures you will stay toasty in winter since the two systems work together. You will also make housecleaning easier since newer systems filter debris and allergens better, so less dust and dirt enters your home through the venting system.
Get a Roof Audit
Also, obtain a roof audit. Your roof probably lost shingles or tiles during spring and summer thunderstorms. If the audit turns up evidence of missing roofing, or worse, leaks, you should have it repaired immediately. If the roof celebrated its 20th birthday, you should purchase a new roof. Without a leaky roof, you have less to clean.
Insulate Your Attic
While your construction crew is onsite, have them add insulation to your attic. This improves your home’s energy efficiency and keeps it warmer. If leaks in the roof cause any water damage in the attic or second floor, your crew might have to replace flooring, joists, or framing before adding the insulation.
Renovate
Renovate rooms to add to their energy efficiency. According to the 2020 US Houzz Kitchen Trends Study, kitchens and guest bathrooms topped the list of rooms to renovate, with 27% of homeowners prioritizing kitchens and 25% prioritizing guest bathrooms. Replace doors and windows, or at least re-seal them to make them airtight. Add skylights to provide natural lighting from above, so you need to use the overhead lights less often. Skylights also help light workspaces in home offices, the renovation hot spot of 1 in 10 homeowners. In bathrooms, switch to low-flow toilets and showerheads.
Prioritize updating appliances in your kitchen. Energy-efficient appliances save you money on your electricity bill. Another plus is that new refrigerators and freezers keep your food cold better.
Add Smart Power Strips to Every Room
Here’s a cheap thing you can do to lower your costs. It can pay you back the year of purchase. Smart power strips recognize when your electronic devices aren’t in use and turn off the power traveling to them. When you turn off your TV but leave it plugged in, it continues using energy. A smart power strip recognizes when the TV gets turned off and cuts the power feed to it. It only costs between $11 and $50 for a small strip that can handle three or four devices. When you go on vacation, you simply turn off each strip using its switch, and you only need to unplug one device — the power strip — from the wall.
You don’t have to make huge changes to save money. Simply using small devices like smart power strips or getting free energy and roof audits can help you. What simple home energy upgrades are you going to make this year?