July 27, 2022
Best Ways to Increase Efficiency In Your Home
Over the last few decades, many households have fortunately turned more attention toward becoming more energy efficient. Conserving energy not only helps your household budget, but can also make a positive impact on your community and the environment overall. There are countless ways to incorporate efficient and sustainable practices into your lifestyle, from gardening and composting to commuting by bike. Here are a few ways to make your home itself a tool for better energy efficiency.
1. Check Insulation
One of the most significant uses of energy in the average home is temperature control. Depending on factors like your climate and the materials used to build your home as well as its age, your energy efficiency may be negatively impacted by poor insulation in your home. If your home has settled or shifted over the years, as many older homes have, you may be left with small cracks around door frames or windows where air can escape and get in, forcing your climate control systems to work overtime.
In spaces ranging from walls and attics to windows and doors, proper insulation is key to conserving energy and using only what you need to keep your home comfortable. Even using curtains and drapes at strategic times of day can help boost your efficiency and keep your home at the desired temperature. You can also increase energy efficiency in your home by installing two- or three-paned windows, preventing energy loss through the glass. Alternatively, your home may also need extra insulation installed. In the long run, these changes are well worth it for the energy they help save over time.
2. Use Intentional Lighting
Another aspect of home design that can go a long way in increasing energy efficiency is making intentional choices around lighting. Leaning on natural light as much as possible can significantly reduce the energy consumed in a household.
Designing a home with plenty of skylights and large windows – provided the windows themselves are energy-efficient – can cut back hours of electricity use every day. In order to increase the energy efficiency in your current home through lighting, install smart lighting throughout the house.
LED lighting that connects to an app or smart home system can allow you to set your lighting to a timer or even control lights remotely. This way, if you leave for work and forget to switch off a light, you can save a whole day’s worth of energy by correcting your error on the go!
Smart lighting can also allow for energy-efficient features such as:
- Dimmable lights
- Schedules synced with time of day
- Automated configurations
- Energy-efficient bulbs
3. Adopt Smart Home Technology
Similar to the benefits of smart lighting, smart home technology overall can offer you more ease in your everyday routine while also conserving energy in your home. These systems allow you to access all of your home’s connected appliances in one place, giving you control over schedules and energy use no matter where you are.
Examples of smart home systems include:
- Google Home
- Alexa Smart Home
- Apple Home Kit
One of the most impactful aspects of most smart home systems is the smart thermostat. On top of checking that your insulation and window panes are up to par, ensuring that you’re not needlessly overrunning your thermostat can also go a long way in saving you energy and money. For example, with smart thermostats you can schedule your home heating and cooling based on when you’ll be home from work – no need to keep an empty house at 70 degrees in the middle of summer!
Smart home technology systems can also give you real-time information on your household energy patterns. This can help you pinpoint areas for improvement and even help you detect issues like leaks. The more smart home features and appliances you connect, the more information you can collect and the better you can optimize your energy consumption. From washing machines and dishwashers to coffee makers and security systems, connecting your water and energy use to automated schedules can help you cut back on unnecessary usage.
Get Started Today
While any one of these actions may seem small at first glance, these lifestyle changes and home improvements can make a great deal of positive difference to your community and your budget.
The team at DeLeers would love to help you implement these solutions for a new energy-efficient home.
Message or call our experts at 920-347-5830 with any questions on hiring professionals for your home renovation or rebuilding!
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