The best way to determine where your home is losing energy is to start with a careful walk-through to spot problems. Here we provide a few of the biggest but easiest tips for improving the energy efficiency of your home.

Heat Loss

If heat is escaping your home in cold weather, or cool air in summer months, that’s energy and money going to waste. A little extra insulation can improve energy savings anywhere from 5% to 30% per year. There are a few places you should check throughout your home to reduce energy loss. If you have an attic, make sure that the entrance to the attic is insulated too. Check existing insulation to make sure there are no gaps. Check doors and windows for air leaks. Foam or rubber weather stripping can be used to improve door seals, and caulking around window exteriors.

Heating and Cooling Equipment

Air filters should be replaced approximately every month or two to improve air quality and efficiency of air-flow. Visually inspect any ductwork you can. Look for dirt streaks, particularly at seams and joints. Use metallic duct sealant tape or duct compound to seal leaks. If your appliances are more than fifteen years old, a specialist from Shorty's Plumbing & Heating Inc recommends looking into replacing them with new, energy-efficient appliances. Savings from new appliances can recoup the original investment in just a few years. Tankless water heaters are especially beneficial in colder regions, only using energy to heat the water when you need it.

Lighting

Nearly ten percent of you electrical costs are due to lighting alone. You probably already know that changing your standard incandescent bulbs to compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) can reduce energy costs, but you might not know that the newer light-emitting diode bulbs (LEDs) are even more energy efficient and also achieve full brightness much more quickly than CFLs.

Appliances

We all know that appliances and electronics use a great deal of energy. What you might not know is that some appliances and electronics use power even when switched “off”. From televisions and computers to kitchen appliances, many major devices should be examined for passive electricity usage. Electricity usage monitors are available in most home improvement stores. They are easy to use and can measure the electricity usage of any 120 volt device.

Remember, you don’t have to do it all at once! Small steps and a little maintenance can make a big difference in home energy savings.