Ahhh it is finally Spring, which means warmer weather! Along with warmer weather, though, sometimes come higher bills. I have included below 3 home improvements that will save you money in the warmer months.
Windows
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, “heat gain and heat loss through windows are responsible for 25%–30% of residential heating and cooling energy use.” You may not realize it, but your current windows could be costing you more money through your electric, gas or oil bills. First and foremost, check your windows for any air leaks. If you find any, you may need to caulk or weatherstrip your windows. Other changes you can make to your windows that can help save money are adding a solar control film, adding or changing your window treatments or adding exterior shading, such as an awning. Blinds and awnings can actually help keep your house cooler during the warm months.
If you feel that you need to completely replace your windows, make sure to choose windows with the Energy Star label and review ratings on the energy performance label from the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC).
Ceiling Fans
Installing ceiling fans is another great way to save money on cooling. Ceiling fans create a wind chill effect, which will make you feel cooler. This means that you to adjust your thermostat by 4-7 degrees. This can be a huge savings in the long run during the warm months! And as added bonus: ceiling fans can change up the look of a room, so you get a refresh to your home décor, as well.
Smart Home Technology
There is a lot of smart home technology on the market today. One of my favorites is a smart thermostat, such as the Nest. Smart thermostats can be operated via a smart home device (i.e., Alexa or Google Home), through your mobile device or manually. They can save you money in various ways. Many of them adjust the temperature based on your habits. For example, if you typically adjust the thermostat before you go to bed at 11:00PM, your smart thermostat will learn this habit and begin adjusting the temperature for you. If you forget to adjust the temperature, you do not have to worry because it is done automatically for you.
One of the best features for saving money, though, is a feature called Eco Mode on the Nest (or something comparable on other models). For this feature, you set a minimum and maximum temperature, such as 60 and 80. When you are not home, your thermostat will not turn on the heat or air conditioning until the house reaches either of those temperatures. This goes beyond just learning your habits because if you leave the house at all different times for all different occasions, the smart thermostat will adjust to all of that, thereby keeping the house cooler or warmer to save you money when you are not home.
Have you made any of these improvements to your home? How much has it saved you?
