5 DIY Home Energy Tips Anyone Can Tackle

5 DIY Home Energy Tips Anyone Can Tackle. During the last years, sustainability and energy conservation have become worldwide trends. It is especially true in the home improvement market. 

Stats show that these are more than just industry buzzwords.

According to the National Association of Realtors, 61 percent of home buyers prefer homes with sustainable and energy-efficient features. Besides, 71 percent of realtors emphasize those characteristics in their sales. 

Savings, comfort starts with small steps 

Many times homeowners wonder how they can reduce their energy consumption. You don’t have to change your home appliances for new ones. 

Indeed, you can take many simple and practical steps to save energy at home. The following tips will make your home more comfortable and cut down your energy bills.

Weatherize doors and windows

If we want more efficient energy consumption, it is necessary to identify and eliminate air leaks. Usually, these gaps are around door and window frames and cause significant heating and cooling loss.

In this sense, the Department of Energy affirms: “Heat gain and heat loss through windows are responsible for 25%–30% of residential heating and cooling energy use,”

First, make sure your windows and doors have the following features:

• Gas insulation
• High-performing glazing and spacers, 
• Fiberglass insulation (in your exterior door) 

Are your windows and doors in good shape? Then, you can apply these measures:

Use caulk to seal up leaks. It is a low-cost and easy-to-do task. 

Add foam weather stripping to doors and windows.

Consider putting window film on your windows. It will help block solar heat gain and protect against ultraviolet exposure. 

Insulate your attic

Roof and attic leaks cause up to 35 percent of heating and cooling losses. That is what energy specialists say. 

So, verify your attic has the proper insulation.

Do you want to know how much insulation you require according to the region you live in? The Department of Energy can provide you information about it.

Another important measure is to check if the insulation is correctly installed. So, verify the following:

• The vapor barrier on insulation should be facedown, toward the living space. If it is facing up, the insulation will catch moisture and generates condensation.
• The vapor barrier should have slits so moisture can get out through them.

Ronnie Kweller, from Alliance to Save Energy, told Business Insider: “Making your home energy efficient means starting with the basics, and the most important of these are the proper sealing of air leaks and insulating sufficiently for your climate,” 

Smart landscaping

Trees shading can reduce the surrounding air temperature up to 5%. You can choose trees with proper sizes, densities, and shapes for almost any shading application. A 1.8 to 2.4 meters high deciduous tree near your home will start shading your windows when it reaches its first year of life. 

So, by having your AC unit under the shade of a tree, it can increase its efficiency up to 10%.

Install a programmable thermostat 

This digital device allows you to control the temperature of your rooms by cooling them or heating them. You can program temperature for the time you need, even when you’re not at home. 

 According to the Department of Energy, these devices can help homeowners to save up to $180 per year when properly used. 

Change your AC filters

By changing or cleaning the air conditioning filters, you’ll reduce your electricity bills considerably. Besides, you’ll extend the life of your appliance. 

These filers need frequent care. Replacing a clogged filter with a clean one can reduce your AC unit energy consumption between 5 to 15%. Therefore, clean (if it’s a reusable one) or replace your AC filter every four-to-six weeks. 

Ready to go green?

If you want to take the green route when making home improvements, you should look for professional help. Remind that repairing or remodeling some areas of your home can be hazardous and costly.

Do you need energy-efficient roofing, windows, doors, or siding? So, call Kreunen Construction at 901-763-8506 or contact us online. 

We build trust and peace of mind into every Kreunen Construction product.