Top 10 lists are always one of my favorite things to read. They are informative while still being short and sweet. Today I'll share my own top 10 list of home efficiency tips. Here we go!
1. Seal it up! If cold air is allowed to seep in to your home it will raise your heating bill much higher than you'd like.
2. Insulate your upstairs. Insulating upstairs will make sure to make your home better year round. “It turns out that about half of the homes in the United States are underinsulated,” says Kateri Callahan, president of the Alliance to Save Energy.
3. Insulate the windows and doors. About 1/3 of the home's total heat cost is through the windows and doors. You can seal the windows and cracks with rope caulk or can be weatherstripped. Installing storm windows is also a great option.
4. Seal the ducts. Duct sealant can be used to help repair any leaks the ducts may have.
5. Buy a programmable thermostat. It might not seem like it will help much but they've been proven to save about 10 percent on heating and cooling bills.
6. Energy efficient doors and windows. You can actually install energy efficient doors and windows that will help keep air from leaking through.
7. Make sure you have the right equipment. Replacing an outdated HVAC system with an energy efficient one can lower your monthly energy bills.
8. High-efficiency water heaters. Water heating makes up anywhere from 15-25 percent of the annual energy usage in the home. Getting a high-efficient water heater will help drive down the cost of your bills.
9. Understand how your home uses energy. It's important to understand how your home uses energy. 46% goes to heating and cooling at 12% goes to lighting.
10. Lights. Don't leave the lights on when you leave a room. It's simple and effective.
Is there anything I missed? What would you add to the list?
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