Fortunately, today's homeowners have many available resources that can help them keep heating and cooling costs down as well as save water.
Whether you decide to renovate existing windows by adding weather-stripping and caulking or replace old, drafty windows with new ones, you'll save money on both heating and cooling costs.
Besides being an eco-friendly energy option that will significantly reduce your carbon footprint on the planet, solar panels will save you substantial sums on your electric bill.
If summer air conditioning bills are causing your temperature to rise, get a cool roof and enjoy the refreshing indoor atmosphere. Cool roofing technology uses reflective materials to repel the sun's heat from the surface of your home, resulting in significantly cooler interior temperatures.
Programmable thermostats take the human error out of the picture and prevent utility bills from soaring when the last one out of the house for the day forgets to turn down the heat or air conditioning.
Traditional water heaters work by keeping a supply of hot water ready at all times. On-demand water heaters heat the water as it's used, so you never pay for hot water that just sits there cooling in a tank.
Replacing your stove, refrigerator, freezer, washing machine, dryer, and other household appliances with those that meet the federal governments Energy Star standards will greatly reduce your household energy costs. Purchasing Energy Star appliances will also make you federal tax credits, increasing your savings even further.
Lush, decorative landscaping is one of the major drains on the utility budgets of many American homeowners. Using native plants, drought-resistant ground coverings rather than thirsty lawns will help you keep water costs down.
Following are seven green home renovations that will save you money.
Energy-Efficient Windows
Whether you decide to renovate existing windows by adding weather-stripping and caulking or replace old, drafty windows with new ones, you'll save money on both heating and cooling costs.
Newer and more energy efficient windows do a better job at keeping warm or cool air in (depending on the time of year) which allows your furnace or air conditioner to not work as hard. You can also look at investing into various window treatments such as blinds, shutters, or even window film to boost your windows to maximum energy efficiency.
Solar Panels
Besides being an eco-friendly energy option that will significantly reduce your carbon footprint on the planet, solar panels will save you substantial sums on your electric bill.
Today's solar panels are much more sophisticated than their counterparts of the past, so be sure to ask professionals such as AMI Energy / 1800 Solar USA for a rundown on the various benefits of having solar panels installed.
Cool Roofs
If summer air conditioning bills are causing your temperature to rise, get a cool roof and enjoy the refreshing indoor atmosphere. Cool roofing technology uses reflective materials to repel the sun's heat from the surface of your home, resulting in significantly cooler interior temperatures.
Programmable Thermostats
Programmable thermostats take the human error out of the picture and prevent utility bills from soaring when the last one out of the house for the day forgets to turn down the heat or air conditioning.
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You can also operate these remotely to turn household temperature regulating devices on a half hour or so prior to your arrival. Some programmable thermostats can also heat or cool different rooms to different temperatures. Therefore, if you can change the temperature in the rooms you use the most versus the rooms you use the least.
This ultimately allows your furnace and air conditioner to not work as hard which should hopefully allow you to save on the cost and life on both systems.
On-Demand Hot Water Heaters
Traditional water heaters work by keeping a supply of hot water ready at all times. On-demand water heaters heat the water as it's used, so you never pay for hot water that just sits there cooling in a tank.
Energy Star Appliances
Replacing your stove, refrigerator, freezer, washing machine, dryer, and other household appliances with those that meet the federal governments Energy Star standards will greatly reduce your household energy costs. Purchasing Energy Star appliances will also make you federal tax credits, increasing your savings even further.
Energy-Efficient Landscaping
Lush, decorative landscaping is one of the major drains on the utility budgets of many American homeowners. Using native plants, drought-resistant ground coverings rather than thirsty lawns will help you keep water costs down.
Native plants are an excellent choice because they are already acclimated to your specific region and won't need to be provided with extra water.
A good rule of thumb to keep in mind when deciding on home renovations with cutting costs in mind is that green choices will almost always put more green in your pocket in the long run.
A good rule of thumb to keep in mind when deciding on home renovations with cutting costs in mind is that green choices will almost always put more green in your pocket in the long run.
There are many other ways to take your home green and more energy efficient as well allowing you and your family to live comfortably without breaking your wallet and bank account on energy bills each month.
