Energy Efficient Home Improvements
Energy efficient homes are a household topic for many Californians. Using less energy in your home will help ensure lower utility bills, a more comfortable home and reduce air pollution. Whether you are planning energy efficient home improvements on your current property or seeking energy efficient homes for a future purchase, saving energy is a hot topic for discussion.
Energy Efficient Homes
Energy efficiency can save you energy and money. There are various approaches to improving energy efficiency in your home. If you are interested in tips changing your energy usage—like turning off lights in unoccupied rooms or turning down the temperature of your water heater—this home energy checklist can help you improve efficiency.
If you want to make longer term changes to your home or property, first ask yourself what kind of home improvements you’d like to make.
- Do you plan on making energy efficient home improvements to an existing property?
- Are you a prospective home buyer on the market for energy efficient homes?
- Do you want to construct an energy efficient home from the ground up?
There may be different home improvement options available to you depending on what kind of property you have or what kind of home you want to buy. Make sure that you consider all of your options when researching your home improvement plans.
Energy Efficient Home Improvements
There are various ways that you can conserve energy in your home. Energy efficiency can involve any of the following aspects of your home energy usage:
Design and construction
Energy efficient homes can be designed and constructed to make the most of the energy that is supplied to them. This can be done by reducing energy loss such as loss of heat through the exterior of the home. This includes the foundation, walls, roofing, doors and other aspects of the building that separate the exterior from the interior of the structure.
The materials and design used to build a home can improve the energy usage of your home. For example, according to Energy.gov, “a cool roof is designed to reflect more sunlight than a conventional roof, absorbing less solar energy. This lowers the temperature of the building just as wearing light-colored clothing keeps you cool on a sunny day.” A cool roof is one aspect of home design and construction that you can look for when shopping for energy efficient homes.
Insulation, heating and cooling
Home insulation, specifically thermal insulation, refers to the material that prevents heat from going where it isn’t wanted. Thermal insulation can be built into the walls, roofing and foundation of a house to improve the efficiency of heating and cooling systems.
In addition to controlling the temperature of your home, water heating is also a large contributor to your energy expenses. According to Energy Upgrade California, water heating can account for about 18% - 25% of your energy use.
4 steps you can take to improve your heating and cooling systems:
- Identify air leaks and drafts and add insulation and filling gaps around doors and windows
- Insulate your attic and walls to prevent warm air leaks
- Seal and insulate ducts
- Use the most energy-efficient heating and cool systems available, including exhaust fans
How to improve your home water heating system in 4 steps:
- Identify and fix any water leaks
- Install low-flow shower heads and faucets
- Use the most energy-efficient water heater available
- Insulate your water heater tank and pipes
Appliances, lighting and electronics
Home appliances can use a combination of utilities, including electricity and natural gas. Choosing the right appliance can save you a lot of money on your utilities and conserve energy. As a start, you can look for the blue Energy Star label when you are shopping for new appliances, electronics or lighting fixtures and bulbs. Energy Star https://www.energystar.gov/ is a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) program that helps to identify and label energy-efficient products to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Lighting fixtures and bulbs can use energy and omit heat. Using energy efficient LED bulbs can reduce your energy usages. LED bulbs also last a lot longer that incandescent bulbs.
Energy efficient home improvements to home appliances, lighting and electronics:
• Replacing incandescent bulbs with energy-efficient LEDs
• Upgrade old appliances and electronics with energy efficient products and properly recycling the old units
• Install manual on-off switches and use smart power strips to turn off phantom loads
To learn more about to cut costs and save energy in offices where there may be a large amount of electronics used, check out this energy savings guide by the New Buildings Institute.
Landscaping
For many Californians, the landscape surrounding a property—and the landscaping designs made by the homeowner—will influence the energy usage of the occupants. For example, trees surround your property may provide shade that keeps your house cool in the summer and lowers the costs of air conditioning.
When designing your garden or home landscaping, consider planting drought-tolerant trees and shrubs. This can also reduce your water usage and save you money in the long term. For more resources, check out this water-efficient landscaping resources guide. https://water.ca.gov/water-basics/conservation-tips/plant-and-landscape-guide
Financing Energy Efficient Home Improvements
Using a personal loan for home improvements can help you afford upgrades now for more savings in the long term. If you're a California resident and you're thinking about making updates to your home, you may be eligible for an energy loan through Cal Coast and GoGreen Home Energy Financing. GoGreen is a program developed by the state of California to help residents finance their home energy improvements. Visit our Energy Loans page to learn more about energy loans for energy efficient home improvements.
As always, our Financial Coaches are here to help you with your budgeting and financial planning. Our members receive free, one-on-one financial coaching as part of our Financial Fitness program. Let our experts help you achieve your financial dreams today.
