How to Create an Energy-Efficient Home

It pays off to lower the usage of every light fixture because lighting accounts for around fifteen percent of your home's energy use.See Disclosure ¹ If you're in the market for new light bulbs, look for smart LED bulbs. These lightbulbs are designed to use significantly less energy than incandescent bulbs. Plus, they last longer which leads to less waste because you’re not replacing bulbs as often.

Compact florescent lightbulbs (CFLs) are another option that improves on the traditional incandescent bulb. However, they include some chemicals that prevent easy disposal, and they use slightly more energy than LEDs do.

An additional way to cut down on energy waste is by installing smart switches and dimmers. Creating a lighting schedule with your smart hub ensures you are not leaving lights on needlessly or using higher intensities of light than you need.

A lot of heat transfer happens through window glass, making rooms colder in the winter and hotter during the summer. Fortunately, there are many ways to counteract this. Window treatments such as drapes, blinds, and awnings or window replacement are all options to consider.

Window coverings can be extremely effective, especially when multiple types are combined. For example, not only do drapes add a desired aesthetic to home décor, but they also help provide shade and insulation to a room. This is especially true of heavier fabrics or curtains that include a thermal lining. Honeycomb blinds trap air near the window, helping to prevent some heat transfer.

On the exterior of a home, metal or canvas awnings over windows help to limit the amount of sunlight that can flood a house with heat during the summer. Depending on the size of your windows and the desired finished quality, getting more energy-efficient windows can be budget friendly.

Alternatively, an option which requires more investment is replacing old or drafty windows with ones that are designed to be energy efficient. These updated windows include double panes to cut back dramatically on heat exchange and excellent weatherstripping to seal in air. For an added cost, you can upgrade from clear windowpanes to those with Low Emissivity Glass (Low-E glass), which is glass with a protective coating applied to increase energy efficiency.

Though window replacement is an expensive undertaking, you can defray some of the cost through federal tax credits and other incentives. More so, you will see a significant improvement in your heating and cooling costs when your windows are optimized for saving energy. If your budget allows for only a certain number of windows to be updated, focus on the rooms that get the most sunlight or where there are noticeable drafts.

When shopping for energy-efficient appliances, be sure to look for models with yellow ENERGY STAR certified stickers. This visual indicator is proof that the appliance has met the strict energy-efficiency standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy. These approved appliances can be large — like a washing machine or refrigerator — or small — like a printer or laptop computer.

However, this doesn’t mean you should start replacing all the appliances in your house. If you’re on a quest to live sustainably by saving energy, it’s counterintuitive to create unnecessary trash by throwing out appliances that still have plenty of life in them. Remember, manufacturing and shipping of appliances still creates plenty of pollution, even when those appliances are deemed energy efficient. Instead, you should simply prioritize energy-saving features and ratings when you do need to replace or add an appliance in your home.

Almost half of a house’s energy usage goes into heating and cooling.See Disclosure ² The easiest and most affordable step you can take is maintaining your air quality systems regularly. This includes changing any air filters as recommended, especially during heavy-use seasons. At minimum, you should change the filter on your furnace every three months and get a yearly tune-up on your heating and air conditioning systems. When practicing routine maintenance checks, make sure the system is fully sealed and any areas that run through attics or basements are wrapped in insulation.

To see an even bigger impact on your energy reduction, choose a smart thermostat to regulate your usage. By connecting to your home’s Wi-Fi network, smart thermostats allow you to program a schedule to adjust the temperature in your house at different times of the day. As an added convenience, you can monitor and adjust the thermostat from your phone, tablet or computer. Another benefit of Wi-Fi thermostats is that they can learn your daily routine and automatically adjust, so you won’t be wasting energy you’re while away at work or sleeping.

It may be common knowledge that heat rises, but you may not realize that heat can also escape through cracks in the walls of your home. There are many types of insulation that can decrease the heat transfer that happens through your walls (known as conductive heat flow) and improve the way temperature moves through the air in your home (convective heat flow). Installing insulation is a substantial job that requires great DIY know-how or a licensed contractor. To better make an informed decision, consider consulting with a professional on your options if your feel your home suffers from poor insulation.

Even making small changes can lead to big results over time. The more of these improvements you can manage, the greater your energy savings and the better benefits for the environment. And, don’t forget to look into how to choose eco-friendly kitchen appliances as well. By adopting eco-friendly practices and investing in energy-efficiency, you not only reduce your carbon footprint but also contribute to a healthier planet for future generations.

1. “Lighting Choices to Save You Money.” Energy Saver, U.S. Department of Energy. 2022. https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/lighting-choices-save-you-money.

2. Kim, Daeung D. and Suh, Hye S. “Heating and Cooling Energy Consumption Prediction Model for High-Rise Apartment Buildings Considering Design Parameters.” Energy for Sustainable Development, International Energy Initiative. April 2021. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0973082621000041.