As a household, you’re deserving of a home that’s both comfortable to live in and provides efficiency for the benefit of the environment beyond it. You don’t have to choose between having a comfortable home and low energy bills.
Many houses waste energy due to small, unnoticed structural flaws and outdated habits. With high utility bills that often lead to uneven temperatures and stress, it’s helpful to focus on low-cost changes that improve daily indoor comfort.
Here are some simple ways to improve the comfort and energy efficiency within your home this year.
Seal Air Leaks Around Windows and Doors
A great way to improve the comfort of your home is by paying attention to the potential air leaks around your home.
Typically, these small gaps can be found around windows and doors. It lets expensive heated or cooled air escape into the outdoors.
Applying weatherstripping to moving joints and a silicone caulk to stationary frames is definitely worth doing. It eliminates both the uncomfortable gaps and stabilizes the indoor temperature that you feel within your home, almost immediately.
You’ll find that with this effort, you can reduce heating and cooling demands on your HVAC system greatly.
Optimize Your Thermostat Settings
Manually adjusting temperatures throughout the day is both inefficient and something that’s easily forgotten about. That’s why it’s helpful to put in a programmable or smart thermostat that automates your home’s heating schedule.
Having a programmable or smart thermostat in your home helps to be able to automatically lower your energy use when you’re asleep or away from home. That’s also great for saving money effortlessly without having to sacrifice any of the comfort that you want when you’re in the home.
Maximize Natural Light and Window Coverings
Windows are often a major source of heat gain in summer and heat loss in the winter. Therefore, it’s a good idea to open your blinds throughout the day during the winter for that much-needed sunlight and warmth in your home.
It’s also good to close any thermal curtains during hot summer days to keep the room cool. Natural light is great when you’re looking to utilize the sun for its free warmth or to keep rooms shaded and cool naturally.
You’re lowering your reliance on artificial lighting and heavy air conditioning.
Maintain HVAC Systems and Change Filters
Having clogged HVAC filters can force these units to work twice as hard. That’s why it’s good to regularly replace air filters every three months to clear the debris from any outdoor units.
It helps to improve indoor air quality while also maintaining consistent and steady airflow through the vents. Extending the lifespan of expensive equipment while preventing sudden breakdowns is helpful for you to save money in the long-term.
Small Changes, Big Savings
Sealing leaks, window management and HVAC maintenance are all great ways to transform your home’s comfort levels. With that being said, make use of these simple tips to improve your comfort while benefiting from energy efficiency levels in the home too.
Feature image by Thiago Japyassu on Unsplash
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