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Tips to make your home more energy efficient this spring
It shouldn't come as a shock that our area has the highest average residen- tial air-conditioning expenditures in the country, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). In fact, those electricity costs are probably already on the rise this April thanks to our warming spring weather kicking on the A/C.
Around this time each year, many along Alabama's Gulf Coast consider ways to cut energy costs and make their homes more energy efficient. That's likely even more true this year than most with the average change in energy costs increasing 25.6 percent from February 2021 to February 2022, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Cutting down on drafts by improving caulking and/or insulation around doors and windows as well the attic is most people's first idea when it comes energy savings. Of course, those are great places to start, but there's plenty more that can be done.
Whether you're looking to make a major upgrade or a few simple fixes, check out the ideas below to help you save some money this summer by making your home more energy efficient.
Major Upgrades
How old is your air conditioner? Your refrigerator? Your water heater? If the answer is more than 10 years old, you're missing out on energy savings. If they're past their prime, it's time to think about replacing it for a newer model or better technology. For example, the EIA estimated 19 percent of all residential energy use in 2015 went toward water heating. With that in mind, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) estimates tankless water heaters can be 24 percent to 34 percent more energy efficient than conventional storage tank water heaters for homes that use 41 gallons or less of hot water daily, and 8 percent to 14 percent more energy efficient for homes that use around 86 gallons per day. That kind of savings can add up over the years. Don't forget to make sure your replacement appliance is Energy Star rated to maximize savings.
Appliances aren't the only areas of the home that can benefit from an ecofriendly upgrade. Your roof is another place major improvements can be made. An aptly named cool roof is "one that strongly reflects sunlight (solar energy) and also cools itself by efficiently emitting any heat that was absorbed," according to the Cool Roof Rating Council. At its most basic, it is a light color roof or a darker color roof with highly reflective pigments to help reduce temperature in much the same way a white shirt helps keep you cooler or putting a reflective panel in your windshield helps keep your car cooler. The DOE explains how a cool roof can help you save: "Conventional roofs can reach temperatures of 150°F or more on a sunny summer afternoon. Under the same conditions a reflective roof could stay more than 50°F cooler. This can save energy and money in buildings with air conditioning."
Minor Upgrades
Making your home more energy efficient doesn't necessarily mean making major upgrades, though. Ceiling fans use a fraction of the energy A/C units do and can be surprisingly effective at helping you feel cooler in your home. How? By creating a wind chill effect, you can turn your thermostat up to 4 degrees higher while maintaining the same level of comfort, according to the DOE, which adds money back to your bank account. Turn off the fans when you're not in the room for even more savings.
When you leave home for the day, consider closing your blinds and drapes to keep sunlight from creating unnecessary heat in your house. The DOE notes on its Energy Efficient Window Attachments page, "In cooling seasons, about 76 percent of sunlight that falls on standard double- pane windows enters to become heat." Studies have found blocking window light using white plastic blinds can reduce heat gains by 33 percent. Sometimes simple preventive measure can have some impressive potential returns.
Stay cool!
