Energy-Efficient Home Upgrades: Enhancing Comfort And Saving Money Through Sustainable Improvements

90^[a]% of American homebuyers prefer a house with lower energy costs, especially if you live in expensive cities. Suppose you live in Orlando, where the cost of living is 4^[b]% higher than the national average. In that case, you can save 20 to 30% on your energy bills by installing energy-efficient home upgrades. With rising prices and climate crises pushing for greener homes, the following energy-efficient upgrades can help you pursue sustainable and comfortable living.

Smart bathrooms

Bathroom remodeling is the top renovation project for 27% of American homeowners. It has an average ROI of 70%, and you don’t even need a complete renovation to receive the benefits of a smart bathroom. Your bathroom adds 10-40^[c]% of value to your home, and installing fixtures like dual-flush toilets or automatic taps makes your house eco-friendly. These smart upgrades make your home more valuable, helping it sell for 10% to 14% more than less sustainable homes.

This increase in value can be especially beneficial to you if you plan to sell your home and stand out from competitors. Since an eco-friendly home is desirable, you gain more bargaining power as a seller and can set a higher price. Suppose you live in a city like Orlando, where the median home price is $390,000, and you want to set a higher price. In that case, having a smart bathroom can increase your home’s value and give you more bargaining power. 

The time for undertaking a bathroom remodeling project has never been better, especially in Orlando, as builder confidence has risen to 56 in July, which indicates a positive outlook for the housing market.

You can hire Orlando Bathroom Remodel experts for your project and take advantage of the current market conditions to get a great deal. So, contact a trustworthy company, like Quality Craftsmen, to make your home stand out. They can offer the best remodeling services, like bath conversions and shower replacements, to help you save more water for competitive prices.

Lighting

Upgrading to energy-efficient lighting can reduce your home’s carbon footprint, waste, and energy consumption. You can switch your traditional old bulbs for CFLs and LEDs. Though purchasing them might be expensive initially, they can save 80% on energy costs and last 25 times longer than regular light bulbs. These come in various shapes and colors and can perfectly fit your home’s style. You can also add dimmer switches or timers to optimize how much light you use. Suppose you always forget to turn your hallway light off before bed. In that case, you can set a timer to turn the lights off after a specific time to prevent energy wastage. 

Insulation

Poor insulation increases your utility bills and prevents a comfortable temperature in your home. Losing energy through windows, attics, and doorways can be especially difficult living in areas with cold winters. Suppose you live in Colorado, where temperatures have dropped to -30 to -40°F during their extreme cold waves. In that case, improving your home’s insulation is crucial to ensure your family’s comfort. 

Start by identifying any air leaks in your home from which air can be coming in or going out. Then cover then seal these with a particular material called caulk or weatherstripping to stop cold air from entering your home during winter. A poorly insulated attic can also lose valuable energy, increasing your heating bills by 25%. Suppose your downstairs living room is wonderfully cozy while your upstairs bedrooms are freezing. This temperature difference is a sign that your attic is poorly insulated. In that case, you should adequately protect your roof by installing materials like fiberglass or cellulose to prevent unnecessary energy loss. 

Smart thermostats

Smart thermostats reduce heating costs by 10% to 12% and cooling costs by 15%, reducing energy bills by up to 23%. These thermostats can learn from your patterns and behaviors. They analyze your heating and cooling preferences and adjust them according to your schedule. You can control them remotely with your smartphone, even when you’re not at home, which helps avoid unnecessary energy use. Smart thermostats use unique features like geofencing to detect when you leave your home and maintain a comfortable temperature while you’re away. They are convenient and enhance the comfort of your home by adjusting it to the outside temperature. 

Appliances

The Department of Energy reports that America consumes around $1 million worth of energy every minute. However, people who chose high-efficiency appliances saved $12 billion on utility bills last year and significantly reduced greenhouse gas emissions. To start saving utility costs, you can get ENERGY STAR appliances. These appliances help the average household save around $450 annually on energy bills by using 10 to 50% less energy.

Suppose you upgrade to an ENERGY STAR refrigerator, which is 9% more energy-efficient than other models. In that case, you can save over $220 using these appliances for 12 years! Similarly, suppose you get an ENERGY STAR dishwasher, which uses 12% less energy and 30% less water. In that case, you can save around 3,800 gallons of water over its lifetime. Investing in more efficient appliances saves money and energy. It contributes to a greener and more sustainable future for our planet.

Doors and windows

Suppose you have old single-pane windows. They may not keep the cold or warm air out very well. Replacing them with double-pane windows with a layer of air or gas in between the panes provides better insulation. The Environmental Protection Agency finds that you can save between $101 and $583 yearly on heating and cooling bills by upgrading to new ENERGY STAR double-pane windows. Similarly, you can save costs by replacing your old wooden door with fiberglass or steel doors for better insulation. You can also install skylights to increase the amount of natural daylight entering your to decrease dependency on electrical light sources. 

Conclusion

Environmental concerns and utility expenses make energy-efficient homes crucial for a better-quality lifestyle. These sustainable improvements bring comfort and convenience to your living space and play a vital role in conserving your planet’s resources. Investing in an energy-efficient home can seem costly initially. However, this decision has long-term benefits. It saves you money and contributes to a greener future. Installing energy-efficient upgrades into your home today creates a brighter future for future generations.