Everyone likes a little extra savings, and recurring savings is even better. The right home maintenance and a few home upgrades can go a long way to ensure savings. When you can ensure that the small investment pays dividends every year, why wouldn’t you want to make some updates?
Weather Stripping
Weather stripping can prevent you from spending too much on heating and cooling by keeping the outdoor air out. You can save 5-10% on your energy bill or 7.5% on average by fixing air leaks with weather-stripping and caulking. This simple upgrade will also prevent your HVAC system from getting overworked trying to keep up on days with excessive heating or cooling needs.
Add a Ceiling Fan
Ceiling fans can be used in any season to take the load off of your home’s existing heating or cooling systems by making the room feel more comfortable. Ceiling fans have two directional settings (one for winter and one for summer months) that can push air down or up to make the room more comfortable for occupants. Boost your home’s energy-efficiency by adding a ceiling fan in place of a traditional light fixture.
Install a Storm Door
Storm doors aren’t just for stormy weather; they can ensure year-round savings by regulating your home’s temperature. Depending on your climate, storm doors could be a good upgrade that offers energy savings throughout the year. Keep in mind though, glass storm doors can trap heat and damage your front door if it gets a lot of direct sunlight each day. The Department of Energy recommends you avoid installing a storm door if the exterior door gets more than a few hours of direct sun each day.
Swap Out Light Bulbs
Dated incandescent light bulbs waste energy and savings every time they’re turned on. In fact, over 1,000 hours, a 60W incandescent bulb uses 60 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity while a 12W LED is so named because it uses only12 kWh in the same time. Multiply this energy savings for every fixture in your home and LED bulbs can mean significant savings.
