5 Smart Energy-Saving Investments for Your Next Home

These energy-saving tips may take some time and funds at a time when you are moving to a new home, but it is best to give them your attention at a time before you are entirely moved into your home. Along with these useful tips, don’t forget to reach out to the professionals who will be able to guide you through the list and help you make the best decisions for your home.

Windows are a central part of any home. From the way that they look to the light that they allow to come into your home, windows can add a specific style or ambiance. They can also allow unwanted things to come in beside the light, or leave your home. Specifically, during the cold months, windows that do not have enough insulation tend to leak in cold air, and during the summer, let your cold air out. Such a problem causes your air conditioner or furnace to work overtime, trying to bring the temperature within the range of your setting.

This may be one of the most common and paramount energy saving tips. If at all possible, it is best to replace your window with ones that are properly insulated to prevent cold and hot air from either filtering in or to escape. Old windows usually do not provide the same type of insulation as newer models. When making the ultimate decision on which windows to purchase, it is vital to check the Energy Star label. This label is a United States government-run program that provides rating information related to windows.

The energy-saving tip comes in handy, especially if you are moving into a home that has not been updated in quite some time. Most older appliances do not work as efficiently as their newer counterparts and could use some updating. Plenty of options out there take into account the amount of energy that is being used, for instance in a dishwasher, the washing machine, or a drier, and are designed to minimize such costs. Energy-saving appliances may not even be as expensive as they sound, as even most cost-conscious of them have most of those options, and
that does not take into account the amount of money saved each month.

Apart from purchasing new windows, as mentioned earlier, another tip that ranks high among the best energy investments is the insulation of your home. Besides windows, air can escape or come into through various points of your home, such as the roof. Spray foam, loose-fill cellulose, or even fiberglass are among some great options to strengthen existing insulation on an already existing home. Insulation is rated as an R-Value, and the higher the number, the better the insulation is. Energy Star also provides a useful chart should you want to compare information on different possibilities.

When purchasing a new home, it is common that the water system throughout the house requires a boiler to heat the water before it is used. Not only does this cause hot water to eventually run out before more can heat to the appropriate temperature, but in the long run, it is a waste of energy, and even space. A tankless water heater could be the ultimate solution. Such a system does not store water for future use, but rather only starts to work the moment that hot water is needed. Some of these systems will even come with a special federal tax rebate should you make the switch.

Lighting a home once natural light fades for the day is an essential aspect of keeping up a home, but it can be a real energy drain. You can begin by switching out lamps and bulbs to be more energy-efficient, but you can also take a step further. Skylights are a great way to bring in extra light when it is available, but it can also help and warm your home. Some skylights come with an option to operate them, which means that they can be opened in the summer months to help cool your home. Depending on where you live, ask a professional, or do some research on the best skylights around you and the way that they should be installed.