Making your home more energy efficient can make a huge difference. Not only can you help save the environment, you can save money, and make your home more desirable. You can go all out by getting solar panels or something as little as changing to energy efficient light blubs.
Things you can replace or add/update in your home to become more energy efficient:
*add insulation- easiest place to add insulation is in the attic, but if you are able to blow insulation into the walls of ceiling it will help keep your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter- especially in older homes
*update appliances- purchasing energy efficient appliances will reduce the amount of power used.
*service your furnace- servicing your furnace once a year will help keep your furnace running as efficient as possible, also don't forget to change out the furnace filter monthly
*update your windows- upgrading to double or triple pane windows makes a huge difference
*put solar shades on the exterior of your windows- more if you have single pane windows and don't want to upgrade to double or triple
*plant a tree- once the tree is large enough to shade your home you will be glad you planted it! (don't plant it too close to the foundation- once the tree starts growing you don't want the roots trying to go through your foundation)
*add solar panels- create your own energy and get away from the electric company altogether. These can be very pricey, there are lots of government tax incentives right now for solar!
*replace incandescent light bulbs with compact florescent- florescent lights last longer, a little more expensive up front but worth it
*use your attic fan- in the summer this can help keep the a/c off a little longer.
*siding replacement- the tighter your home is sealed the less heat/ac you lose
The easiest things you can do is turn off lights when they are not needed, unplug computers and devices when not in use, close doors quickly after entering and exiting, keep your house temperature at a reasonable level- don't make your furnace/ac work harder than it has to, turn fans on in bedrooms to circulate the air, and try having a fire in your fireplace in the winter!
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