Energy efficiency is a big deal. Besides the promise of significant utility bill reduction and decreased impact on the environment; taking the steps to increase the energy efficiency of your home can also create a living space that is healthier and less prone to some of the more common household hazards.
Energy-efficient housing may reduce or even eliminate toxins like mold and mildew while minimizing or eliminating humidity. Less mildew and moisture also mean fewer issues with pests.
Making Your Home More Energy-Efficient
Living in an older home that wasn’t built with energy efficiency in mind, doesn’t mean you can’t take advantage of all the benefits. Upgrading your appliances Rockville MD to more efficient models can make a huge difference. Just replacing your refrigerator, if it’s more than 10-years-old, could save you hundreds of dollars over the lifetime of your new appliance, and upgrading to an energy-efficient dishwasher could help reduce water waste by 3,500 gallons per year. Whether you replace one at a time or have the ability to upgrade them all, the impact is significant.
If upgrading your appliances isn’t on the radar at the moment, there are still some things you can do today to make your home more energy-efficient. Upgrade to LED lighting reduces energy consumption and one bulb can last about 25,000 hours. Lowering your thermostat when you’re away from home and unplugging unused chargers are simple ways to make a big impact for free. If you have an older home with gaps in the floorboards filling these gaps can help and, while you’re waiting to fill the gaps, a rug over the area can reduce draftiness and air loss.
Making simple changes to your home to improve energy efficiency doesn’t have to be difficult, and each small improvement makes a big difference whether you’re concerned about the environment or wanting to save money on your monthly bills.