10 Energy Saving Home Improvements

Posted on May 1, 2007

My girlfriend and I have made a hobby out of improving our house.  We live in a small, ranch style house built in 1958.  The house is structurally in great shape but is in need of updating and serious maintenance.  We are a regular visitor to Home Depot and Lowes often consulting knowledgeable employees and window shopping all the options.  The one thing we always ask ourselves before selecting an option or an appliance is how will it benefit us long term.  Is it something that is going to cost money to maintain or will it save us money in lower energy bills?  Here are ten energy saving home improvements that everyone should at least consider:

  1. Upgrade your furnace and air conditioner.  I have always followed the rule of thumb that if your furnace or air conditioner is more than 15 years old, it is time to shop around for a new unit.  An ENERGY STAR-qualified model will reduce your cooling costs by 20% and heating costs by 15%.
  2. Add attic insulation.  I hate going in the attic as much as the next guy.  I only have like four feet of clearance at the pitch, but this is a necessity.  If attic floor joists are showing, then you need more insulation.  A minimum of 12 to 15 inches is ideal.
  3. Weather tighten or upgrade windows and doors.  It may seem obvious to not have any leaks in or around doors and windows, but I have seen some gaping holes in some older homes.  This will be a huge savings if you have leaks or holes.
  4. Seal and insulate heating and cooling ducts.  I installed my heating and AC unit with my Dad and this is something that we noticed right away if it was not done right.  Ensure you use approved foil-faced tape to seal the crimped metal joints.  It is never too late to go back and tighten the seals up.
  5. Buy energy efficient appliances.  Design and efficiency have improved dramatically in refrigerators and washers in the past ten or so years.  A new ENERGY STAR model has been rumored to save as much as 50% of the energy used by a 10 year or older model.  This will be a noticeable savings on your energy bill.
  6. Invest in an on demand tankless hot water heater.  These typically cost in the neighborhood of $500 to $1000 but supply you with an endless amount of hot water while saving energy.  They also qualify for a $300 tax credit that runs out at the end of 2007.
  7. Replace all incandescent bulbs with fluorescent.  They outlast incandescents by a ten to one ratio, and the price of the bulbs continue to decline.  The only drawback is they do take a little longer to get to full illumination, but its not that big of a deal to me. 
  8. Install a programmable thermostat.  I have not done this yet, but I realize it will be a savings and we are always checking the prices of them at Home Depot and Lowes. 
  9. Use landscape to your energy advantage.  Large shade trees should be planted on the south side of your home for summer shade.  Ensure plantings do not restrict air flow of the AC unit.
  10. Turn off lights when not in use.  This is something my girlfriend is always getting on me for.  I like to leave all the lights on and would have them on 24/7 if it was not for her.  This is one of the oldest energy savings tips out there but continues to be relevant even today.

I will conclude with the fact it is important to ensure you take a well balanced approach to each of these.  It is easy to spend a lot of money quickly when doing home repair so spread it out over time if necessary.  Set a specific amount aside each month to purchase or save for home improvement products, but do not go overboard.  This can be one of the easiest places to go well over budget. 

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    » Filed Under Energy Savings, Home Savings, Spending

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    10 Responses to “10 Energy Saving Home Improvements”

    1. Carnival Of Personal Finance #99 - Awesome Money Quotes Edition on May 7th, 2007 12:10 pm

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    3. Carnival of Personal Finance #99 Recap - Part 1 at Clever Dude Personal Finance & Money on May 7th, 2007 2:38 pm

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    7. Save the Planet and Lower Your Utility Bill - Plus6 …a personal finance blog on May 11th, 2007 5:17 pm

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    8. Save the Planet and Lower Your Utility Bill - savingwithme.com on July 26th, 2007 1:15 am

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    9. Carnival Monday: Personal Finance & Family Life » on August 14th, 2007 1:25 am

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    10. Carnival Monday: Personal Finance & Family Life » on February 12th, 2008 11:00 am

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