Like everything else in life a home can become inefficient. Time robs things of their luster and value though the most frustrating loss is often efficiency. Insulation in a home eventually loses its ability to protect the homes internal environment, and even appliances and electrical devices lose their ability to do their jobs properly. When a home' becomes energy inefficient however homeowners will often notice a steady rise in electrical costs. In order to make a home energy efficient once more there are several things that homeowners need to consider.
Although most homeowners immediately retreat to the thought that says something to the effect of "how much are these changes/upgrades going to cost me" and "where do I even get the money for these things" when they begin thinking about making their home energy efficient again, most of the changes/upgrades needed to make a home energy efficient once more are actually quite affordable and/or pay for themselves. What homeowners will really want to keep in the back of their minds is the fact that while it may cost money to make their home energy efficient again it will cost even more to neglect the problem and pay higher energy bills each month. In effect bringing energy efficiency back to home is a project that pays for itself right out of the gate.
When a homeowner does decide to move forward with improvements to make their home energy efficient again one of the first things they need to look at is air conditioning and furnace units. On average an air conditioning/heating unit will operate at optimal levels anywhere from 15 to 25 years depending on the brand and the maintenance it receives over those years. Once these units pique however they will actually begin consuming more energy in order to do just the half job they did before. Moreover they'll won't be capable of cooling and heating a home as they once did regardless of how much more energy they consume in an attempt to do so. Replacing heating and air-conditioning units can actually reduce energy consumption by 50%.
In keeping with the theme of heating and cooling a home let's talk about replacing windows within a home. While the initial cost of replacing these might seem a little high, depending on the type of homeowner selects, keep in mind that again leaving old windows in place will actually cost homeowners more money than it would to simply replace him. Modern windows are often made with multiple panes/to better insulate a home. This means that not only will help trap cool and hot air pumped out by furnace and A/C units but will also keep sunlight to a minimum and some even reflect ultraviolet light which in turn protects furniture, carpet, and flooring. In addition making a home more energy efficient by replacing windows in a home can also provide security and privacy homeowners as many types of modern windows are reflective and key outside eyes peering in.
Customers concerned with making their homes energy-efficient should also keep their eyes firmly fixed on all of their appliances. Things like refrigerators, stoves/ranges, and even washers and dryers all behave in the same manner as air-conditioning/furnace units do when they are past their prime and on the down slide. These appliances will begin consuming more and more energy as they age in a futile attempt to operate as efficiently as they once did. By leaving old home appliances in place and allowing them to operate far below optimal levels while consuming additional energy can raise energy bills by as much as 40% to 50%.
Homeowners who not only want their home to become energy-efficient again but really want to reduce their monthly electrical bills can opt to have a solar power system put into their home. Not only has solar power change dramatically and become far more efficient than ever has been in recent years but homeowners can also expect rebates and tax credits from state and even federal government agencies once installation has been completed. Moreover any unused energy that is collected and stored in a solar power system can be sold back to utility companies for use elsewhere. Solar power is one of the most popular upgrades for a home right now and with prices very friendly homeowners would be foolish to overlook this possible upgrade.
Keeping all the things they need to replace or upgrade in the back of their minds homeowners should first focus on cost. While many homeowners may not initially have the money to make their homes energy-efficient these same people are often surprised to learn that there is financing available for these types of upgrades. Various nonprofit organizations such as the "EGIA" or The Electric And Gas Industries Association work hard to find homeowners financing for these types of projects and even sponsor some of them themselves. In those scenarios where a homeowner not only has good credit but is in good standing with their mortgage bank said bank may even offer homeowners an additional loan to either improve or raise the value of their home.
Homeowners who seek to bring energy efficiency back in their home all do so for different reasons. Some do so in order to bring the cost of their electrical consumption down while others do so to do something for the environment. Other homeowners still seek to make their homes energy-efficient once more simply because it will raise the resale value of their home. Regardless of why a homeowner chooses to do so however there are no drawbacks to actually doing so. Everybody wins when a home is energy-efficient.
SolarGEM specializes in Orange County solar power contractors, and solar power services.
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