Improvements You Can Make In The Energy Efficiency Of The Home

Saving money has a universal appeal, and no area presents as many opportunities to preserve the family budget as the energy efficiency of the home. While none of the measures individually will spark dreams of early retirement, collectively they present a valid circumstance to reduce energy bills significantly as well as help the planet's ecology.

Most people think of the term "home energy efficiency" as applying to the physical structure of the home and associated energy loss. While this is true in some capacity, there are a number of contributory factors in energy efficiency within the home that go overlooked. The personal choice of appliances is a great place to begin to employ energy efficient measures. Purchasing energy efficient refrigerators, washers and dryers, and dishwashers can save over $50 per year in energy on each item, depending upon usage. Turning off electrical devices like radios or televisions when not in use, and adding energy efficient light bulbs can save another $150 to $200 annually.

In the basement, an outdated furnace or hot water heater can cost from hundreds up to a thousand dollars or more in lost energy annually. A new furnace not only saves on energy bills, but you get a Federal Tax deduction for the purchase and installation if the energy efficiency meets the criteria. In addition to a new hot water heater, turning down the water temperature 5 to 10 degrees can easily save over $50 a year for a family of four. Insulating a hot water heater and basement pipes can reduce energy loss and save money as well.

In the attic or crawl space, the proper use of fiberglass installation can save a homeowner a great deal of money on heating and cooling bills. A simple action like lowering the interior house temperature by a few degrees in Winter, or raising the temperature a few degrees in Summer can present a savings of $500 per year or more. Insulating doors and windows or purchasing new energy efficient ones will improve the energy efficiency of your home for years to come.

The bottom line in home energy efficiency improvements rests in the cumulative effects of many small measures resulting in large savings. Attack the glaring deficiencies first, and move on one area at a time. Remember, you're not only saving money, you're helping preserve the ecological balance for future generations. The natural resource you conserve now guarantees your grandchildren will live in a better environment.