10 Easy Ways to Save Money & Energy in Your Home

Most people don’t know how easy it is to make their homes run on less energy, and here at InterNACHI, we want to change that.

Drastic reductions in heating, cooling and electricity costs can be accomplished through very simple changes, most of which homeowners can do themselves. Of course, for homeowners who want to take advantage of the most up-to-date knowledge and systems in home energy efficiency, InterNACHI energy auditors can perform in-depth testing to find the best energy solutions for your particular home.

Why make your home more energy efficient? Here are a few good reasons:

• It saves money. It costs less to power a home that has been converted to be more energy-efficient.
• It increases the comfort level indoors.
• It reduces our impact on climate change. Many scientists now believe that excessive energy consumption contributes significantly to global warming.
• It reduces pollution. Conventional power production introduces pollutants that find their way into the air, soil and water supplies.

1. Find better ways to heat and cool your house

As much as half of the energy used in homes goes toward heating and cooling. If you want to better understand how your HVAC system and other components impact your home’s efficiency, a professional home inspection can help identify areas where energy is being wasted. The following are a few ways that energy bills can be reduced through adjustments to the heating and cooling systems:

• Install a ceiling fan. Ceiling fans can be used in place of air conditioners, which require a large amount of energy.
• Periodically replace air filters in air conditioners and heaters.
• Set thermostats to an appropriate temperature. Specifically, they should be turned down at night and when no one is home.
• Install a programmable thermostat. A programmable thermostat saves money by allowing heating and cooling appliances to be automatically turned down during times that no one is home and at night.
• Install a wood stove or a pellet stove. These are more efficient sources of heat than furnaces.
• At night, curtains drawn over windows will better insulate the room.

2. Install a tankless water heater

Demand-type water heaters (tankless or instantaneous) provide hot water only as it is needed. They don’t produce the standby energy losses associated with traditional storage water heaters, which will save on energy costs.

Tankless water heaters heat water directly without the use of a storage tank. When a hot water tap is turned on, cold water travels through a pipe into the unit. A gas burner or an electric element heats the water. As a result, demand water heaters deliver a constant supply of hot water.

3. Replace incandescent lights

The average household dedicates 11% of its energy budget to lighting. Traditional incandescent lights convert approximately only 10% of the energy they consume into light, while the rest becomes heat.

• CFLs use 75% less energy and last about 10 times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs.
• LEDs last even longer than CFLs and consume less energy.
• LEDs have no moving parts and contain no mercury.

4. Seal and insulate your home

Sealing and insulating your home is one of the most cost-effective ways to make a home more comfortable and energy-efficient. A tightly sealed home can improve comfort and indoor air quality while reducing utility bills.

• Electrical outlets
• Mail slots
• Around pipes and wires
• Wall-mounted air conditioners
• Attic hatches
• Fireplace dampers
• Door weatherstripping
• Baseboards
• Window frames
• Switch plates

5. Install efficient showerheads and toilets

• Low-flow showerheads reduce water usage.
• Low-flow toilets reduce water usage by thousands of gallons annually.
• Vacuum-assist toilets help clear waste efficiently.
• Dual-flush toilets allow different flush volumes.

6. Use appliances and electronics responsibly

• Keep refrigerators away from heat sources.
• Turn computers off when not in use.
• Use ENERGY STAR appliances.
• Unplug chargers when not in use.
• Laptops use less electricity than desktop computers.

7. Install daylighting

• Skylights
• Light shelves
• Clerestory windows
• Light tubes

8. Insulate windows and doors

• Seal window edges with rope caulk.
• Install weatherstripping.
• Add storm windows.
• Repair or replace damaged windows.

9. Cook smart

• Convection ovens use about 20% less electricity.
• Microwaves use about 80% less energy than ovens.
• Use lids on pots and pans.
• Use pressure cookers to reduce cooking time.

10. Change the way you do laundry

• Wash full loads.
• Avoid unnecessary high-temperature settings.
• Clean the lint trap before every dryer use.
• Air dry clothes when possible.
• Spin-dry clothes before using the dryer.

Homeowners who take the initiative to make these changes usually discover that the energy savings are more than worth the effort. InterNACHI home inspectors can make this process much easier because they can perform a more comprehensive assessment of energy-saving potential than the average homeowner can.

If you’re buying or selling a home and want to know where your home can be more energy efficient, schedule a professional home inspection with 204 Inspections to identify potential issues before they become costly problems.