In honor of Earth Day coming up, April 22nd, 2024, here are a few tips to help support the earth and also your cost efficiency. Home energy efficiency has been a big topic of conversation and the cost of utilities seems to keep increasing. Enjoy these earth friendly ways to save money by decreasing home energy costs.
Energy Efficiency Tips
LOW COST SAVINGS
1) Replace Incandescent Lightbulb
If you still have some older style lightbulbs, replacing them with Halogen bulbs, compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs will help you save money and help the planet! These bulbs are more energy efficient and last longer than the Incandescent bulbs.
2) Unplug appliances, and unused chargers
Did you know that even though your electronic items are not turned on, if they’re plugged in they are still using energy! Plugged in electronics can be responsible for 10% of your energy bill. Unplug and save!
3) Reuse, Reuse, Reuse
You can reuse in so many different ways. One important way is by purchasing used items when doable. This saves space at landfills. Check out FreeCycle, an online group where members post things they are looking for, and what they have to get rid of! You can also use Facebook Marketplace, Ebay, or Poshmark. In addition, a simple way to reuse at home is by replacing paper plates, plastic cups, & water bottles with reusable dishware.
A new company offering returnable and reusable packaging to keep an eye on is DeliverZero. This company offers takeout and delivery in reusable packaging you can have returned at your doorstep!
4) Door Sweeps
Having door sweeps offers an easy way to keep the cold or warmth out of rooms where it is not needed. Don’t spend money on AC for your unfinished basement!
5) Grow your own!
Why purchase groceries when you can grow them? Save your car mileage, gas, and money by going a bit more green and growing your own veggies or fruits! You won’t need any electricity for this, as growing greens is powered by the sun. This tip may also help build your community because you can share your fresh veggies or fruits with your neighbors!
6) Wash in cold water
According to treehugger.com 90% of the energy used during a wash cycle is dedicated to heating the water while only 10% is used to run the machine.
BIG MARGIN SAVINGS
1) Maintain your heating and cooling systems
Each season by having your HVAC contractor perform a tune-up. This will help your system to run as efficiently as possible.
2) Cool down with eco-friendly mini splits and window units!
When shopping for an eco-friendly air condition, locate units with an “Energy Star” label. As stated on EnergyStart.cog, “ENERGY STAR is the trusted, government-backed symbol for energy efficiency helping us all save money and protect the environment through energy-efficient products and practices.” You can cool your home while keeping your environmental impact low.
A few eco-friendly cooling options are:
GE Profile Energy Star 10,000 BTU Inverter Smart Ultra Quiet Window Air Conditioner
LG – Energy Star 14,000 BTU Dual Inverter Smart Wifi Enabled Window Air Conditioner
Keystone Energy Star 5,000 BTU Window-Mount Air Conditioner
3) No-cost energy assessments
Energy assessments help determine what the best course of action is to start saving money. If you’re local to Cape Cod, Cape Light Compact offers free home efficiency tests, including the blower door test which measures air leakage. Mass Save also offers a free online energy assessment.
4) Upgrade your appliances
Old fridges and freezers use a lot more energy than newer models. Mass Save’s Appliance Recycling Program aims to remove old, inefficient units from use, so that they do not waste energy. In addition to free energy assessments, Cape Light Compact offers a rebate for those turning in older models
5) Home Insulation
Be cognizant of your home air leakage. Air leaking into or out of the house can be costly. See a diagram of common air leaks below.
Selling your home? Energy Efficiency helps!
An energy-efficient home can help command a higher price-point. If you are thinking about listing, contact your Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Robert Paul Properties agent today who can help answer all of your questions!