Investing in your home can be overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be! Whether you're looking for ways to save energy and money or wanting to do something good for the environment, taking certain steps now can provide significant long-term benefits. That's why we've created this guide – to help you discover five simple strategies that will not only improve the value of your home, but also result in big rewards further down the line. So if you’re curious about how investing in your home could make a difference, let’s dive in!
1. Switch to Energy Efficient Appliances
Many household appliances, especially behemoths like refrigerators and washing machines, suck up a lot of energy and contribute significantly to your monthly energy bill. Switching to modern, energy efficient units can be a powerful way to save money and power and reduce your environmental footprint. Keep an eye out for the Energy Star label. This means the appliance is approved by the EPA to be energy efficient. While these appliances may seem like large investments, you can save between 20 and 50 percent on your monthly energy bill. This adds up to significant savings over time.
2. Upgrade Your HVAC System
Your HVAC system handles your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning equipment. Depending on where you live, this likely makes up a large part of your monthly energy bill. One of the best upgrades you can make is installing a heat pump. This will transfer heat from one part of your house to another and conserve the heat your furnace produces. By upgrading your ventilation system, you can also maximize the efficiency of your heating and air conditioning equipment. While we know it sounds complicated, the truth is that upgrading your HVAC system is one of the most direct and dramatic ways to save money and energy that you can undertake.
3. Insulate Your Home
By keeping your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer, your insulation does for free what your HVAC system does by using energy. A good home insulation job can save you lots of energy and money, depending on where you live, and is an excellent investment in the value of your house as well. Attics, walls, floors, basements, crawlspaces, and more are all great targets for insulation and will do magic in reducing your energy costs. Many municipalities even offer free energy-saving consultations that provide an expert evaluation of what insulation you might need and how it can help you cut costs.
4. Install Energy Efficient Windows
Your windows are the weakest part of your home regarding warm air escaping during the cold winter months and cool air escaping during the summer. No matter how much insulation your house has, those windows will always allow air to escape. Besides putting in thick curtains that block this leakage, you can also install special energy-efficient windows engineered to stop as much air from leaving your home as possible. There are several types of energy-efficient windows on the market, including E-glass, which is coated with metal oxide on the interior side of the glass. This reflects air back into your house, saving you money and energy in the long run.
5. Invest in Renewable Energy
Solar panels and other forms of renewable energy are becoming less expensive and, therefore, more appealing to the average homeowner every day. The truth is that while they are a significant investment, solar panels can save you thousands of dollars over many years. They also protect you from rising energy costs and disruptions to the grid as you become the owner and, therefore, the controller of your energy system. With many cities and counties offering incentives to install solar power, right now is the time to tap into this emerging technology and get ahead of the game.
Sign Up for Renewable Energy with OnPoint Energy
Investing in your home doesn’t have to be as daunting as it seems. It simply takes a bit of research and effort to understand all the available options and plan accordingly with what works best for you. The time and money spent now on smart investments will ultimately pay off in the future. In addition, taking steps to reduce your energy usage and adopt renewable energy initiatives can help make a positive impact on our environment - something we should all strive for. So why wait any longer? Start now by making smart decisions that can have lasting positive results. Interested in venturing further down the green path? Sign up with OnPoint Energy's renewable energy plan today!