Consider Solar
Solar panels are a great alternative energy source. They can last for up to 30 years, and they’re easy to maintain. They’re also a good investment. When you build solar panels into your home, it adds value to it—and who wouldn’t want their home’s value to go up?
Purchase Energy Efficient Appliances
- Energy efficiency is one of the most important things you can do for your home, and it’s also one of the easiest. While this may sound a little strange, it’s true: there are hundreds of thousands of energy-efficient appliances on the market, so you don’t have to sacrifice quality or performance in order to go green.
- Look for the Energy Star label. This will tell you that an appliance has been tested by an independent party and proven to be more efficient than its peers. You should also compare their energy efficiency ratings with other models within their category (for example, look at washers rather than dryers). The lower this number is, the better!
- Get online before buying any home appliances—it’ll save time and money when compared to going out into stores just for a quick comparison study session. You’ll be able to check prices from multiple retailers at once too!
Using CFL Light Bulbs
CFLs are a great way to start saving money and energy. They use about 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs, last up to 10 times longer, and have an average life of 8-10 years. However, they do contain mercury so make sure you dispose of them properly!
You should also cover the bulb when it’s on because the CFL can get hot enough to melt plastic light covers and give off UV radiation (which can cause eye damage). If you don’t plan on using your lights for a long period of time (like in a basement or attic), consider using enclosed fixtures that are designed for fluorescent bulbs instead.
CFLs can be recycled through large recycling centers like Home Depot or Lowe’s
Install a Programmable Thermostat
If you’re looking to save money and go green, installing a new programmable thermostat is the way to do it. A programmable thermostat can save you up to $180 per year in energy costs. They also keep your home at a more comfortable temperature, so no more turning up the air conditioning or heating when you’re not around!
It’s easy to install one too! If you already have an older model of a thermostat that doesn’t support additional wiring, all you need is some basic tools and about 15 minutes of time. The directions are laid out for you on Amazon, or we’ve provided them below:
- Unscrew the old thermostat from its location using an adjustable wrench (a Phillips screwdriver might also work in some cases). Be careful not to damage any wires attached as well as avoid touching anything metal with your bare hands while doing this step – both would cause a spark which could cause electric shock injury if done incorrectly by someone unfamiliar with working on mechanical equipment such as heaters/air conditioners etcetera.”
Seal Air Leaks and Insulate Your Home
The most cost-effective way to save energy is to seal air leaks in your home. Air leaks through walls, floors and ceilings can account for as much as one third of the energy used in a typical home. Even a small hole can cause significant losses over time.
To find air leaks, use a smoke pen or incense stick that will show where there are cracks around windows, doors and other openings in the building envelope (the exterior walls, roof/ceiling and foundation). Seal those areas with caulk or weather stripping.
Don’t forget about insulation—insulate floors, ceilings, crawl spaces and walls with fiberglass or spray foam insulation blown into wall cavities between studs or joists. This is an inexpensive do-it-yourself project that will pay off quickly in lower heating bills!
Get an Energy Audit of Your Home
An energy audit is a great way to start making your home more energy efficient. Energy auditors will come to your house and look at all the places where you could be saving money on energy bills. You can find them at Home Depot or online, and they’re very inexpensive—the average cost of an audit is only $250-500, which is a small price to pay for potentially huge savings in the long run.
The auditor will look at everything from insulation to lighting fixtures, and make suggestions as to how you could improve each area of your home’s efficiency level. Typically this includes replacing old appliances with new ones (like refrigerators or air conditioners), installing better windows throughout the house, putting in radiant floor heating instead of radiators for heat distribution throughout rooms (radiators waste 85% of their energy), etc. Your auditor may also recommend items like smart thermostats that can save you even more money by adjusting themselves automatically based on weather conditions outside so that they don’t unnecessarily use more power than necessary during winter months when it gets colder outside but not necessarily inside as well!
These energy saving tips will help you save on energy bills, and help the environment as well.
You can help save the environment and your wallet by installing solar panels on your roof. Solar panels are less expensive than ever before, and they can provide you with benefits like lower electric bills and reduced environmental damage. Your solar system will likely be installed on your roof, so it’s important to make sure that the roof is in good condition before installing any solar panel system.