As more people become aware of the effects of climate change, they are looking for ways they can make a difference in their everyday lives. Your home is a big part of your carbon footprint and making it more energy-efficient is an excellent way to do your part for environmental conservation. It can also have the added benefit of saving you some money on your utility bills. Here’s what you can do.
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Update Your HVAC
Heating and cooling your home takes a huge amount of energy. If your HVAC is old and isn’t serviced regularly, it may be running inefficiently. Contact a heating service Newport News VA for an inspection and to get ideas of what steps you can take. If you need a new HVAC unit, make sure to select one that is energy star rated by the Department of Energy. This is a clear sign that the unit is energy-efficient and will save you money to run it.
Install a Cool Roof
If it is time to replace your roof, you should look into having a cool roof installed. Traditional roofs absorb a lot of the sun’s heat, causing the house to be warm and the air-conditioning to run more often. Cool roofs are made from reflective materials, like paint or shingles, that reflect the heat away from your house. This keeps the house cooler and needing less air conditioning. If you live in a sunny location, this would reduce your energy bills significantly.
Seal the Attic
Attics are generally unused spaces that are rarely visited. Many people would be surprised at how much air can leak from the attic. When your heated or cooled air leaks out of the attic, your HVAC system will need to run longer to replace that air. Sealing off the leaks will keep that air indoors and keep your home climate controlled and energy-efficient.
Use Energy-Efficient Lightbulbs
Replacing your old incandescent lightbulbs with newer energy-efficient lightbulbs is an easy, low-cost way to make your home more eco-friendly. Although these new bulbs can cost more upfront than the old ones, they last much longer. You won’t need to replace them as often, saving you money in the long run.
While some ways to make your home more energy-efficient are more tracking remote workers expensive than others, when it comes time to replace older, less efficient home products, try to find the eco-friendly version to replace them with. Remember, anything you do is better than nothing.