Cost Effective Ways to Upgrade Energy Performance at Home

If like most homeowners you are keen to learn cost effective ways to upgrade energy performance in your home, read on. In this article we offer you a range of top tips to improve your energy efficiency without breaking the bank.

Cost-Effective Ways to Upgrade Energy Performance at Home

Photo by Caleb Woods

You don’t have to break the bank to make your home more energy efficient. In fact, small, affordable tweaks can make a big difference. Whether you want to cut the bills, improve the comfort of your home or reduce your carbon footprint, there are options to suit.

Replace old bulbs with LED bulbs and plug any gaps around windows and doors. These are small DIY jobs that will save energy in the short term. A programmable thermostat is another cheap way to control heat and cooling schedules that are tailored to your needs.

Insulation or Energy Star appliances will give you long term benefits if you’re willing to pay a bit more. These can also increase its value. Try these can help to upgrade energy performance with cheap solutions and have a comfortable and energy efficient home.

Evaluating Current Energy Usage

To learn the most cost effective ways to upgrade energy performance at home, you start by knowing your current usage. This means detecting energy wasters, reviewing energy bills and doing a full audit.

Home Energy Audit

A home energy audit is the first step to measuring your energy usage. You can either hire an audit expert to explain it all to you or do it yourself to get an idea of what to expect. DIY audits will include door and window draft checks, insulation evaluations and heating and cooling inspections.

A professional inspection will include a blower door inspection for air leaks or a thermographic inspection for moisture. Check every appliance and light bulb for its age and energy use rating. This list will help you identify any old or inefficient machines that need to be replaced.

Once you know what’s being wasted energy you can fix it now and save money.

Understanding Your Energy Bill

To have control over energy costs start by unzipping your energy bill. What’s on your bill is the amount of energy used, in kilowatt hours (kWh) and the price per unit. Look for seasonality which will tell you which appliances or systems are using the most power during peak seasons.

Check any charges and fees such as fixed rates and variable rates. Knowing peak and off-peak rates will also help you use energy during cheaper times. Some bills will also have energy use comparisons with other similar homes to use as a benchmark.

So you can see where reducing or adding improvements will give you the biggest bang for your buck.

energy metre — Monitor your energy readings to upgrade energy performance by staying on top of your energy use

Photo by Arthur Lambillotte

Major Energy Drains

High energy bills will blow your budget. Heating and cooling, water heaters and old appliances are usually the culprits. Upgrades to LED lights and smart thermostats will give you quick and meaningful energy savings.

Check if your appliances are old or inefficient. A fridge over a decade old for instance will use more energy than a newer one. Also be aware of phantom loads (energy used when machines are turned off).

Unplugging appliances or using smart power strips will help reduce this invisible use. Knowing and fixing these big wastes will allow you to prioritize the most impactful upgrades for maximum savings now.

DIY Energy Saving Solutions

You don’t have to break the bank to improve your home’s energy performance. Simple home improvements like sealing drafts, insulating walls and installing smart thermostats can reduce your energy bills and be comfortable.

Sealing Leaks and Drafts

Air leaks will cost you a lot to heat and cool. Look for leaks around windows, doors and baseboards and weatherstrip or caulk them.

Caulking is for seams or crevices under a quarter inch and weatherstripping is for moving surfaces like doors and windows. Keep an eye out for things like chimneys and attic openings. These small fixes can make a big difference in your home’s comfort and energy efficiency.

Insulating Your Home

The best way to maintain room temperature is to insulate. Start in the attic which is usually the biggest source of heat loss. You can install blanket insulation or loose-fill yourself.

Make sure to spread the insulation evenly and fill every surface completely. Walls and floors above unheated basements get extra insulation which reduces overall energy consumption. If you need financial help to do this, a free insulation scheme offers affordable options.

Smart Thermostat Installation

A smart thermostat controls your home’s temperature better. Choose a model that fits your system and follow the step by step installation instructions that comes with the device.

The most common setup involves wiring the device to your home’s Wi-Fi and replacing existing thermostat hardware. These machines learn your routine, regulate temperature automatically and can be controlled remotely. Get more precise climate control that can save you hundreds of dollars in energy and make your home feel warmer.

Upgrading to Energy Efficient Appliances

If you want to maximize your home’s energy efficiency, consider buying appliances that use less energy but are very efficient.

If homeowners start to consider renewable energy options they can save money and reduce their carbon footprint. Of these, solar panels and household wind turbines are common options for harnessing natural resources.

Solar Panel Benefits

Solar panels are a renewable energy source that is widely used for many reasons. Saving money is sometimes the biggest selling point. Once installed, solar panels will cut your electricity bill in half by capturing power directly from the Sun. It’s a clean energy technology that can give you big savings in the long run especially if tax credits and incentives are available.

You’re not just saving the planet by buying solar panels. Installing solar panels reduces your need for fossil fuels and thus your carbon footprint. Plus many systems can store excess energy in batteries to use for later or sell it back to the grid – a new revenue stream.

man installing solar panels on a roof — Solar panels can help you upgrade energy performance at home

Photo by Raze Solar

Solar panels require minimal maintenance. Most of the time cleaning is done only once or twice a year. With such low maintenance requirements they are a hassle free long term home renewable energy solution.

Residential Wind Turbines

Clean energy is also available from residential wind turbines. They can be used in areas where the wind is steady and can generate renewable power. They are more expensive upfront than solar panels but are ideal in the countryside or open areas where the wind is strong.

The flexibility in electricity supply is a big advantage of at-home wind turbines. They generate power on your land which can reduce your costs and make outages more reliable. Wind power can work together with solar energy, maximizing the energy output in any weather condition.

Wind turbines are more visible and physical so you have to check your zoning in your area before you put one up. They take up more space but in the long run it’s worth the investment and gives your home another source of energy efficiency and sustainability.

Upgrade Energy Performance in Conclusion: Building Energy Efficiency on a Budget

You don’t have to break the bank to achieve your home’s energy efficiency. You can start with simple DIY tasks like sealing leaks, switching to LED lights or setting up a programmable thermostat and save energy. Invest a little more for better insulation, energy efficient appliances or even clean energy like solar panels or wind turbines and it will pay off big time in the long run.

Not only energy savings but also comfort, environment and value of your home. With the right habits, you can have a sustainable and energy efficient home.