The good news is that you can save thousands of dollars over time by making a few upgrades to your home. While the initial cost of these upgrades might throw you off at first, you will discover that investing in your home will benefit you for decades.
Use Ceiling Fans
Ceiling fans don’t take much energy to run and they keep a constant airflow in the room. This airflow allows you to lower your thermostat by a couple degrees in the winter and increase it in the summer. In the winter, ensure that the fan spins in the direction that pulls air away from you. In the summer, change the direction to push the air at you. This can save you a lot in utilities over time, especially with a larger home.
Install a Programmable Thermostat
Programmable thermostats allow you to adjust and schedule your home’s temperature to reduce energy consumption. You can program it to turn the furnace or air conditioning on an hour before you get home so you don’t have to sacrifice comfort and can still save money on your heating and cooling costs.
Replace your Bulbs
Get rid of the old incandescent bulbs and upgrade to LED or CFL bulbs. They give off the same amount of light but use much less energy. They also last longer than incandescent bulbs. This may seem pricey at first, so consider slowing making the switch by doing one room at a time.
Invest In A New Furnace
Old furnaces are not as efficient as newer ones. Purchase a new furnace that is appropriately sized for your home to ensure that you don’t get one that is too large. It will cycle on and off more often than one that is designed to heat a home your size.
Eliminate Drafts with Energy Efficient Windows
Old windows create drafty rooms, which results in a higher bill to heat your home. Utilize tax credits aimed towards energy-efficient home improvements to assist with the initial cost of upgrading and focus on replacing the windows where the most air comes through.
Weather Strip
Seal up all those gaps with weather stripping. Look around your doors and windows. Every gap you seal reduces energy costs. Look for something a very durable around doors that are used often so you don’t end up spending too much money on replacements.
Don’t make owning your home more expensive than it needs to be. Take the time to make these upgrades and your wallet will thank you with never-ending savings.
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