Tips for saving energy in the home
Updated April 6, 2020
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Weatherization | Attic insulation | High efficiency heating and cooling units | Shade window areas
By improving the energy efficiency of your home you can save both energy and money.
A significant part of your cooling and heating dollars can be lost through cracks and gaps in your home. Weatherization techniques such as insulation, caulking and weather stripping can reduce energy use for conditioning up to 55 percent. Weatherization measures seal your home to keep heat inside in winter and outside in summer.
Insulation is the single most effective type of weatherization technique. Many types of insulation material are available for attics and ceilings, walls, floors, heating and cooling ducts, and pipes. You can obtain advice about insulation products at a local hardware store or lumberyard.
The best place to start insulating, in terms of energy savings, is the attic. If it has six inches or less of insulation, you probably need to add more. For safety, make sure you keep insulation at least three inches away from lighting fixtures, motors, vents and heat-producing equipment.
Heated or cooled air may be lost as it flows through the walls of your home to the outside. To reduce this loss, insulation can be added within most un-insulated walls. By reducing heat loss in the winter and heat gain in the summer, wall insulation can save you energy all year.
Installing dual-glazed windows can also significantly improve the energy efficiency of your home.
High efficiency heating and cooling units
When replacing an air-conditioner, select the most efficient model -- one that provides the most cooling for every watt of electricity used. Room air conditioners have an Energy Efficient Ration (EER) label and central air conditioners have a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ration (SEER) label. A higher SEER or EER number means the air conditioner is more efficient and will use less energy to cool your home. You should also regularly check the filter on your air conditioning unit. When you replace a dirty or clogged filter it allows the unit to run more efficiently and use less energy.
Outside awnings or plants, or using drapes and shades inside windows, can prevent sunlight from entering your home and causing heat gain in the summer.
