The average house in New Jersey is 40 years old. Needless to say, 40 years ago we didn’t have the energy-efficient solutions that we have today, nor was energy efficiency as big a deal as it is today.
Bio Developing works with businesses and building owners to improve energy efficiency. We also help design and make green buildings. However, as electricity prices have started to increase, I thought it would be helpful to write an article to cover energy efficiency solutions for your home.
Improving your home’s energy efficiency will realize energy savings and reduce your demand for electricity from the power grid. My idea is, if homeowners across New Jersey start to take actions to improve energy efficiency, then we can significantly reduce the overall power demand and thereby reduce overall carbon emissions.
So, how do you improve your energy efficiency without it costing you an arm and a leg? This article covers some of the most common ways to create a more energy-efficient home.
TIPs for an Energy-Efficient Home
Upgrade or seal your windows
The right windows help trap in cool air in the summer and hot air in the winter. Many old windows do not insulate well and also allow drafts to come in and out of your home. Replacing old windows with more modern windows can be expensive. On average, you can expect to pay about $600-$700 per window. However, depending on the windows you currently have, by replacing your windows you can save up to 50% on your energy costs.
A more affordable alternative to replacing your windows is sealing them. You can find tutorials online or hire a professional to come and seal your existing windows so that they do a better job at insulating your home.
Install a storm door
Your door may do a good job at keeping out heat during the summer, and cold during the winter. However, a storm door adds an extra layer of protection and improved insulation for your home.
Storm doors typically have a low-emissivity glass or a protective coating that can help reduce your door’s insulation by 50%, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
Most storm doors last between 25 and 50 years and can cost as little as $75.
Use energy-efficient light bulbs
The lighting section at your local hardware store is loaded with light bulbs that use less electricity and produce brighter and more comfortable light.
If your home still uses incandescent light bulbs, replacing your bulbs for energy-efficient light bulbs such as LEDs or compact fluorescent bulbs, is probably the fastest and easiest way for you to immediately reduce your energy costs.
While new light bulbs can cost more, they quickly pay themselves off as they last 10X longer, use 75% less electricity, and produce high-quality light.
As lighting technology evolves, light bulbs are becoming more and more energy-efficient. If you replaced your lights with LED or CFL light bulbs more than 5 years ago, there is a good chance that newer light bulbs exist that can help you cut energy costs by another 20-25 percent.
Turn off your water heater or get a tankless water heater
Your water heater is one of the biggest energy consumers.
A tankless water heater will significantly improve your home’s energy efficiency and reduce energy costs. Tankless water heaters also last longer than conventional water heaters.
Tankless water heaters work by using an electric element or gas burner to warm the water as it travels through a pipe and into the unit. This delivers a near-endless supply of hot water and provides instantaneous comfort and convenience. Unlike traditional water heaters, the hot water supply is not stored in the tank. This makes a tankless water heater a cost-effective conservation option.
A tankless water heater can cost between $3,000 and $4,000.
If you do not want to or can’t buy a tankless water heater, you can reduce your energy costs by turning off your water heater during the day or turning it on 30 minutes before you shower and turning it off 30 minutes after your shower. It takes your water heater about 30-40 minutes to heat water.
Updating your HVAC system
Air conditioning is likely the single largest user of electricity at home.
Unfortunately, replacing your HVAC system is not cheap. However, today HVAC systems use far more energy than older systems. Many new HVAC systems come with Energy Star ratings and various SEER ratings, which is a rating of your air conditioner’s efficiency.
Apart from being less efficient, old HVAC systems that don’t work well tend to use more power than normal to try and cool or ventilate your home.
If your HVAC system is more than 10 years old, replacing it with a new, more efficient system will help you reduce costs. It’s estimated that new and more energy-efficient air conditioning systems will pay themselves off within 5-6 years.
If you are not prepared to replace your air conditioner, getting an A/C tune-up or running yearly cleaning and maintenance on your air conditioner can help to make it run more efficiently.
Depending on the size of your home and the brand you choose, a new split system can range between $4000-$12,000.
Slay energy vampires
Did you know that most of your electronics use a small current of electricity when they are turned off? These are often called “energy vampires” or “vampire appliances.”
Using a power strip to power your TV, internet modem/router, and desktop computers and turning them off when they are not in use can help reduce your energy costs.
Unplugging kitchen appliances such as toasters, blenders, and coffee machines when not in use can also help.
A great example of this is phone chargers. According to Energy.gov, the average phone charger consumes 0.26 watts of energy when not in use.
The idea is that a little goes a long way. Collectively energy vampires can be responsible for 10% of your energy bill.
Set your thermostat
Regulating your thermostat can also help you save a lot of money.
If your home does not have a thermostat that allows you to program your air conditioner, investing in a new thermostat can help you improve energy efficiency and reduce energy costs at home.
If you have a programmable thermostat, program your HVAC system to be off during times you are not home and turn it on slightly before you arrive. Make sure the fan is set to “auto”. This makes the fan run only when the HVAC system is running and will prevent it from running all day. It also helps your system last longer.
Consider taking advantage of the natural temperature as well. Opening your windows during the evenings can help cool your home in the summer. Opening your blinds or curtains during the day allows sunlight to help warm your home during the winter.
Upgrade your appliances or use them wisely
As you need to replace appliances in your home, opt for those with a high Energy Star rating. Also consider appliances that take less to operate or operate efficiently. For example, some dishwashers use less water than others, while doing a better job. Front loading washing machines use less water as well.
In the meantime, you can also do things with your existing appliances to save money. For example, making sure your refrigerator has at least one inch of space on all sides will improve air circulation. You should also turn off your fridge and clean the cooling coils at least once a year.
Turning off your dish washer’s heat dry option will also save you money. On average, a dishwasher will use 9-14 gallons to wash your dishes. If you use your dishwasher daily or twice a day, it can get costly. Wash your dishes by hand when you only have a few dishes to wash.
Wash your clothes with cold water
How many times do you do laundry in a week?
According to treehuger.com, 90% of the electricity used by your washer is used to heat the water. If you opt to run your washer with warm or cold water, you can save money. Recognizing this, most laundry detergent brands have specifically designed detergents that can wash any kind of clothes effectively with cold water.
Improve your attic’s insulation
Improving your home’s insulation can help save between 10-20% percent of your heating bill.
The best to start is your attic, including the floor and rafters. Sustainable insulation can be purchased for less than $1 per square foot and is easy to lay.
When installing insulation, remember to protect the attic’s airflow by leaving soffit vents open.
Consider using a fireplace insert.
Another way to cut your energy costs is to add an insert to your fireplace. A fireplace insert is basically a stove, wood, or gas, that is designed to be inserted into a fireplace that is already there.
Adding a fireplace insert to your home reduces heated air loss through the fireplace, transforming it from a warm ambiance to an effective tool for keeping you warm and comfortable in the winter.
Using a professional installer maximizes the insert’s efficiency and ensures proper ventilation.
A professionally installed fireplace insert can cost between $2,000 and $4,000.
Install new showerheads and faucets.
While not directly related to electricity, installing new low-flow showerheads and sink faucets can help reduce the amount of water you use and lower your home’s utility costs. Additionally, when showing you will use less hot water and in turn lower the amount of water your boiler needs to heat.
Low-flow showerheads and faucets will reduce water usage by 2.5 gallons per minute.
Get rid of space heaters
Although electric space heaters keep you nice and toasty in winter, they are one of the least energy-efficient appliances that exist. Many space heaters use 1,500 watts of energy to run and are a costly way to drain your energy bill. They are also a potential fire hazard.
Install solar panels
At first thought, the idea of installing solar panels can seem like a big step or a large investment. But consider that the single biggest reason that homeowners are going solar is to reduce their energy costs.
Thanks to advancing solar technology, solar panels have become very affordable and a great option for any homeowner who wants to reduce their electricity bill.
If you own your home, consider installing solar as a way to reduce your energy costs. In almost all cases the monthly payments you will be making for the solar installation will be less than your monthly electric bill.
Solar panels also help you avoid increasing electricity costs and fees imposed by your local utility.
Lastly, in time they will pay themselves off at which point your investment will start to seriously pay off.
Perform an Energy Audit
If you are serious about improving your home’s energy efficiency, consider hiring a professional to audit your home and evaluate the inefficiencies and wasted energy in your home. A certified energy professional will inspect in and around your home to pinpoint savings opportunities and identify areas that need improvements. Auditors typically charge by the square footage of your house or by the hour.
Switch to a new energy supplier
One of the benefits of living in New Jersey is energy choice.
In most states, homeowners receive their energy from their local utility and pay whatever the local utility charges them for electricity and natural gas.
In New Jersey, homeowners have energy choices. This means you do not have to supply your electricity or natural gas from your local utility and can choose your own energy supplier.
Similar to choosing your phone carrier and phone plan, retail energy suppliers offer competitive energy rates and various kinds of plans. If you are not familiar with energy shopping, the best thing to do is to speak to a professional energy consultant who can help you find lower energy rates for your home.
Improving your home’s energy efficiency
Making your home more energy-efficient and saving energy at home comes from a) looking at the big picture and b) changing your everyday habits.
Analyze your home’s weak spots in order to prioritize your upcoming investments in energy efficiency.
You don’t need to make all of these changes at once, instead, be strategic about your home improvement choices so that you’re incorporating smart energy solutions as well.
If you need any help or have any questions about improving your home or office’s energy efficiency, Bio Developing’s experts are here to help!
Article by
Rebecca Samson
Editor, Bio Development
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