10 Ways to Increase the Energy Efficiency of Your Home

Improving the energy efficiency of your home is definitely something you want to do more of when it comes to your home’s performance.

Many of us are more conscious now than ever before about energy usage and how we’re all responsible for keeping our energy usage as low as possible. The lower you bring your energy usage down, the more impactful you are when it comes to your home’s carbon footprint.

The smaller the footprint, the less of an impact your home makes on the environment, as well as your individual contributions as humans.

With that being said, if you’re looking to increase the energy efficiency of your home, here are ten ways to do just that.

Make use of LED lighting

LED lighting is a very useful change to make to your home’s lighting setup because it’s known for being a lot more energy-efficient than all the other traditional light bulbs on the market.

Think about what LED lighting could be installed in and around your home. From ceiling spotlights to standing lights, the use of LED is just one way that you can help improve the performance of your energy usage.

Once your traditional lightbulbs stop working, replace them with LEDs instead of going with the same ones, as this will help to reduce your output of energy output, even if you end up leaving lights on throughout the day.

Be efficient with your heating

Heating is something that you can be efficient with when it comes to your usage. After all, you don’t always need to have the heating on in order to keep the home nice and comfortably warm.

With that being said, it’s worth looking at an HVAC company near me because you want your home to perform as well as possible energy-wise. If your HVAC system breaks down, then it can send your household into chaos, and it’s something you’ll want to fix as soon as possible.

HVAC systems can also underperform if you’re not being mindful of keeping your systems well-maintained.

Try to be efficient with your heating in other ways too. That means perhaps operating your heating system at a lower temperature and not having it on as much as you would usually do.

You could also look at identifying which appliances use the most heating and reduce usage of these appliances where you can, every so often. The little changes can often make a considerable difference.

Draft-proofing

Draft-proofing is a great method of helping insulate the home, especially when you’re noticing gaps and entry points around the home where heat is being lost.

Even the gaps between doors can contribute to heat loss, which is why you should look to draft-proof your home as best as possible.

Take a look at all of the doors around your home and consider putting a draft excluder that will help block any heat from being lost or any cold air from other rooms from coming in.

You could also do the same for the windows around your home, too, if there are any cold spots where the windows themselves are beginning to underperform. Draft-proofing will help to minimize the amount of heating you’re using, even during the cooler months of the year when the home requires more heating to make it comfortable.

Hot water insulation

If you’ve got a hot water cylinder that you rely on for hot water, then you might want to consider insulating this where possible.

Insulating your hot water cylinder can help to minimize the amount of heat loss that your hot water cylinder experiences and ultimately save on the energy you’re using as a household.

Be mindful of your heating in general, when it comes to setting temperatures in particular. If you can get a lower temperature, you’ll certainly help to keep your energy bills low, but your energy usage will be even lower too.

Insulate your home in other areas

Insulation is definitely something that you want to look into when you’re trying to improve the energy efficiency of your home. While some properties are well insulated, especially those that are brand new, others will need their insulation updated more often than not.

To help with insulation, look at the areas where you might need to add additional insulation to the property. For example, consider the wall cavities within the home where you could inject insulation into the spaces.

The attic space is often a popular spot for insulation, as well as underfloor insulation. It’s good to replace old insulation too, as and when it’s required, so be mindful of what insulation is present and what’s missing.

Insulation can be costly, but there are also plenty of budget-friendly options to take advantage of, too, so shop around for a good deal.

Unplug devices and switch off outlets

Devices are something that contribute to the efficiency of your home, and the more devices you use in the home, the more expensive your utility bills are as a result.

With that being said, it’s worth thinking about what devices are plugged into outlets and are therefore using energy, even when you’re not using them. A smart meter is also a good idea if you’re looking to keep an eye on the usage of energy, while also monitoring what needs to be unplugged or switched off from the outlet, depending on where you live.

Unplugging the devices or switching them off at the outlets is going to minimize the wasted energy that’s coming through these devices while not in use. By staying on top of these devices, unplugging them where necessary, is ultimately going to help you save more 

Maintain and replace appliances when required

Appliances are responsible for how much or how little usage you have when it comes to energy. The more appliances you have around the home, the more energy you’re likely to use as a result.

This can prove problematic, particularly when it comes to appliances that might not be in the best shape and could therefore be replaced to improve their efficiency. 

Look at how you could maintain your appliances by having them regularly checked for any problems that might occur, and that could be contributing to the rise in energy usage as a result.

There will be occasions where some appliances have become so reliant on the energy they use that they’re no longer an affordable option. Therefore, you might want to look at getting these appliances replaced as and when needed. You’ll probably see a big difference as a result of regular maintenance and replacement.

Reduce your water usage where possible

Water usage can contribute to a lot of energy consumption over time. From leaving taps running while brushing your teeth to taking more baths than showers. Reducing your water usage is something you should aim to do as often as you can for the sake of keeping your home energy usage as low as possible.

Think about the water usage you’re currently accruing as a household and the small changes that you could make here and there to help improve and reduce your usage as a result. 

You might also want to think about getting a water tank for your garden space. This can prove useful when you’re wanting to water your garden plants without needing to use any extra water from your garden hose, for example.

Replace any windows and doors

Windows and doors are an important part of your home’s energy efficiency because if they’re underperforming and letting heat escape easily, then you’re going to be spending more on your utilities, which means more energy usage and a bigger carbon footprint as a result.

With that being said, it’s worth paying attention to the current state of any windows and doors. If there’s one or two that aren’t working as they should, then you might want to look at getting these replaced sooner rather than later. That way, you’ll be able to enjoy a warmer home and one that doesn’t cost the earth to run on a regular basis. 

Make use of smart technology for energy efficiency 

Smart technology is definitely something that can make a big difference to your home’s environment and how you exist within the spaces.

There are plenty of appliances nowadays that come with smartphone connectivity. From your dishwashers to washing machines and more. These appliances that you can control from your smartphone or tablet device are handy to have available.

What’s better than being able to control your appliances from inside and outside of your home? It can help make living a lot more efficient, not just from an energy standpoint but from a sense of ease and hassle-free living.

If you’re looking to make more changes to your home’s energy efficiency and reduce your carbon emissions in general, use these tips to help increase your home’s efficiency this year. Explore the options that are available for your home and make these changes so that you can enjoy your smart home for longer, too.