10 Big Steps to Improve Your Home's Efficiency

Add Insulation - One of the most cost effective ways to make your home more efficient is to add insulation. This can mean up to a 20% savings in heating and cooling costs. The easiest place to add insulation is in the attic. The recommended amount of insulation is R-38 (or about 12-15 inches). Cellulose blown-in insulation is more resistant to air flow than fiberglass insulation, is made of recycled material and is flame-retardant.

Upgrade HVAC Equipment- Heating and cooling accounts for half your household energy consumption. Upgrading to energy efficient heating and cooling equipment will save hundreds of dollars each year. Proper sizing and maintenance are also important. Use a contractor that will perform a load calculation on your home to accurately size your new HVAC equipment. Have a pre-season check on your system in the spring and fall each year to make sure your equipment is running properly.

Replace Windows - A Low-E dual or triple pane window will reduce heat loss or gain, resulting in lower heating and cooling costs. Your climate will dictate the type of window that will provide the greatest efficiency. Options such as UV coatings, framing and gas-filling have specific benefits for different climates.

Heat pump water heater - Super efficient and eco-friendly! A heat pump water heater will provide $9 worth of heating for each dollar spent on the electricity to power it. It transfers heat from the air to the water instead of creating heat, making it twice as efficient as a standard electric water heater. Heat pump water heaters can qualify for tax credits and local utility rebates.

Solar water heater - Use free energy from the sun to heat your water! Certain systems can qualify for a 30% tax credit as well as rebates from your local utility company. Contact your local solar provider for options.

Radiant Barrier - Install a radiant barrier in your attic to reduce heat loss or heat gain. Radiant barrier can block up to 97% of radiant heat transfer providing a significant savings in your heating and cooling costs.

Attic Fan - Easy to install, a solar attic fan is a great choice to lower your attic temperature, which will reduce the load on your HVAC system. This will, in turn, save money on your cooling costs as well as extending the life of your HVAC equipment. Best of all, it operates on free solar power!

D'mand System- "Are you waiting for hot water?" The D'mand System moves hot water to your most remote fixture in seconds. The cool water that would normally run down the drain while you wait for hot water is recirculated back to the water heater. The D'mand System is more energy efficient than standard recirculators. Save energy and water while adding the convenience of hot water on demand!

Duct Sealing & Insulating- Duct leakage can reduce your heating and cooling equipment's efficiency by 20%. Wrap ductwork in fsk insulation and seal any holes or cracks with duct sealant. Well sealed ductwork may also allow you to downsize your HVAC equipment and reduce energy consumption.

Install Tubular Skylights - For about the cost of a nice light fixture, you can install a tubular skylight. The Natural Light model is more efficient than standard skylights; it emits more light, has a sealed shaft to minimize hot or cold air from infiltrating your home, and can be installed in less than two hours.

Visit http://www.coolattix.com and http://iamenergysmart.com/Energy-Smart-Ideas/index.php for more information or to purchase items listed above!

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Attic Insulation - The Most Important Investment in Energy Conservation

If you're big on energy conservation, then your attic is probably well insulated. If it's not, then you need to understand that heat rises and it migrates through the ceiling and attic space quickly in cold weather if you don't have something up there to slow it down.

I installed R-25 insulation in my attic a few years back and it made an immediate and noticeable difference in indoor comfort. I have no regrets about spending roughly $1,000 to insulate the attic. It's a one-time cost that provides payback for the life of the house in reduced heating costs. It also reduces the amount of heat that is capable of migrating through the hot roof and into my living spaces via the ceilings.

Rolled insulation is a good investment. If you can install a second layer perpendicular to the first, it will help provide overlap where energy would otherwise be encouraged to migrate right through. You can also use blown-in insulation to supplement traditional rolled insulation or insulation batts. The advantage is that blown-in insulation can settle in small cracks and crevices where it isn't easy to insulate with traditional forms of insulating materials.

Your money is well spent when you insulate the attic. It works all year long to keep you warm and keep you cool. The cool attic space overhead should be your top priority for insulation because it represents a large surface area in your home that allows warmth in the winter to escape, and warmth in the summer to intrude.

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Learn 8 Easy Steps to Reduce Your Home Energy Bill And These Will Not Cost You a Dime

Before you think about adding renewable energy sources to your home, it may be a good idea to cut down on your home energy usage first. That sounds logical as not doing so is like leaving the windows open while the A/C is running! Maybe that is a stretch but I think you get the point. If you are thinking of adding solar or wind energy to your home, cutting down on your energy usage will only reduce your renewable energy investment.

Change Your Daily Habits: Sometimes the most difficult things to change lie between our two ears. Most of us probably did not arrive overnight at the bad habit of leaving the lights on while no one was in the room, or even worse...not even home. Yet, changing our daily habits can make a significant impact on home energy usage. And the best part, they do not cost us a dime.

1. Reduce Light Use - One of the easiest ways to cut energy costs is to live by the rule: one light on per person in the house. If that is a stretch for your family, challenge them by turning off unused lights until you get down to one light per person. Make a game out it and give a reward to the person who uses the least amount of lights. Sometimes, taking baby steps is the best way to go. And those small changes year-over-year will begin to add big dollars to your bank account.

2. Keep Unused Rooms Closed - There is no need to cool or heat rooms that are not in use such as the attic, basement or laundry room. Close doors and vents in unused rooms to keep the comfortable temperatures where your family is...and at a lower energy cost.

3. Close Garage Door - All day and night the house is either heating or cooling the garage so think twice before sending this stored energy to the wind...keep it! The garage is a form of insulation, and a good idea to keep in mind since heating and cooling costs can count for up to 25% of your energy bill.

4. Close Up Unused Fireplaces - since hot air rises, this is a more important rule in the wintertime. Opened fireplaces will create a natural vent for your hard earned heating dollars to escape.

5. Adjust Thermostat - adjusting the thermostat by 15 degrees for eight hours can reduce your electric bill by 15%. 15 degrees seem a bit extreme...try 5 degrees for a week then progress from there. And with programmable thermostats today that allow you to set your daily and weekly programs, this can make lowering your energy bill a simple chore.

6. Window and Blinds - although this may not have been high on your energy conservation list, opening or closing your windows, blinds or even curtains can have a positive effect on your energy bill. Instead of reaching for the A/C thermostat, try opening windows instead to vent hot air in the summertime, especially the upstairs windows if you have upper floors. Even using a fan near windows to blow hot air outside can be a lower energy usage choice than the A/C. If the A/C or heater is a must, closing the blinds and curtains can be a great way to help insulate your home from the weather. An exception to this rule is if your windows face the sun in the wintertime. In this case, open the blinds and curtains to let the solar energy in.

7. Bundle up or go naked - this one was probably not on your list, at least not on any energy conservation one. Instead of turning on the heater, throw on a sweater instead. And in no time, you will save enough money to buy a new sweater. For those hot summer days, go light on the cotton. How light is up to you, but keep the neighbors in mind if you leave the blinds and curtains open.

8. Cook Outside - instead of using the stove and heating the house, try cooking outside with your barbeque during the summer months. That way the stove, or secondary heater, will not be competing with your home cooling system.

With energy costs on the rise and renewable energy sources requiring an investment in time and money, changing your energy consumption habits to cut your energy bill is the best first step for most. And why not, it does not cost you a thing!

About The Author: Keith Garrett is a solar energy and wind power enthusiast for the home. His website at http://www.solarwind4homes.com offers knowledge and tips to the home owner on transitioning to renewable energy in the 21st century.

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