How can you save energy on a daily basis? With concerns about the environment continuing to spring up, people are asking themselves this question all the time. When you are looking at different ways to save energy in your home, the question has another side to it - for every bit of energy you save at home, you save a bit of money at the same time. Here are some ideas for making home improvement go hand in hand with saving energy on a daily basis.
1. Going green and silver in the kitchen. Talk of 'going green' will always bring a homeowner to the kitchen sooner or later. Giant appliances like the refrigerator and dishwasher are known to use tremendous amounts of energy if they are not using the latest technology. Want to see some savings in energy bills while making the entire room look sleeker and more modern? Stainless steel appliances are the way to go to address both issues.
2. Seeing lights in a whole new way. There has been some resistance to fluorescent and LED lighting solutions over the years, mainly because of the look of the light they offer. What most homeowners don't know is that they can change the way fluorescent bulbs look by moving the lamp shade and using other types of filters. The amount of energy you save by using fluorescent bulbs is hard to ignore, while you can always save an incandescent bulb or two if you cannot part with a lamp's direct exposure.
3. Replacing old air conditioning units. Air conditioners will use energy no matter what model you are using, but the difference between modern and older units is startling. Efficiency has finally been achieved with wall units that have the Energy Star rating, making summer afternoons cooler without sapping so much energy and costing the homeowner too much to enjoy it. Considering how harmful to the environment the old units are, this item probably should be first on your list.
4. Insulating the attic. Getting an efficient cooling and heating system won't do you much good if poor insulation at home is causing you to let in too much of the outside air. Insulation near all windows is crucial, but the attic's insulation may be the single biggest cause of poor efficiency overall. If you are not experienced in improvement jobs of this magnitude, get professional help in improving insulation and allow your HVAC system to do its job right.
5. Getting rid of old wooden siding. If there has been a knock on wooden siding, it isn't in the looks department. Older houses can benefit a lot from this look, but the maintenance and other concerns involved could cause you to tire of it quickly. Switching over to vinyl is an inexpensive option which will help you out in the energy department as well. Improved insulation and minimal maintenance (saving your own personal energy) make this choice a smart one on many fronts.
