Uncovering Areas Where You Can Improve Home Energy Use

id you know that the average electric bill in the United States is around $137 every month? That accounts for about 907 kilowatt-hours per household. This amount can fluctuate with location, as well as how energy efficient the home is.

While some of those factors may be beyond your control, the good news is that there are some things you can do to improve home energy use. Below are several to consider. Putting these in place can help reduce energy consumption, which is good for the environment and your wallet.

Conduct an Energy Audit

An energy check-up of your residence is a good place to start in identifying opportunities to improve home energy use. It will show problematic issues, such as areas that are not sealed or insulated properly. It also can pick up on safety concerns with any electrical or ventilation components of your HVAC system.

An energy audit will present you with a detailed picture of how you can get the most out of your home's infrastructure and every aspect of your HVAC system. It will tell you what difference installing energy-efficient windows or insulation in your attic would make. I will offer suggestions for weatherizing your windows, walls, floors, ceilings, plumbing, and ductwork.

Alter Daily Behaviors

One of the easiest ways to improve your home energy usage is to decrease consumption. While energy-efficient appliances and lightbulbs can help cut utility bills, so can responsible behavior.

Turning off lights and unplugging appliances that are not in use is an easy one. Even efficient clothes dryers use a lot of electricity. Hang-drying even some of your clothing can go a long way to reducing energy costs and consumption.

Turning your thermostat up (when warm) or down (when cold) a few degrees will not do much to affect your comfort level, but it can equal huge energy savings over time. You also might consider installing a smart thermostat to help optimize your home's HVAC output.

Do HVAC Maintenance

Having regular maintenance done on your HVAC system can save a lot of money. It will ensure that major and minor components are functioning as they should. This improves efficiency, which means your system does not have to work as hard, or use as much energy, to get the job done.

Routine maintenance has the added benefit of catching minor problems before they become bigger ones. This will help you avoid catastrophe and save you money on emergency repairs.

Learn Other Ways to Improve Home Energy Use

Now that you know some ways to improve home energy use, you can determine which tactics may be most useful for your home. With a little bit of time and diligence, you can reduce your electric bills and save lots of money over the long term.

At Energy Plus Home Improvements, our certified crew has more than 200 years of cumulative experience in home improvement and energy efficiency. We pride ourselves on offering quality products and work at fair prices. Reach out to us today for a free estimate.