How to Make a House Energy Efficient

Are you worried about high energy bills? Most older homes were built before the advent of modern insulation and heating systems. As a result, they tend to be drafty and difficult to heat adequately. If your home is in the same boat or you’re just thinking of investing in a property, it’s time to make it more energy efficient.

When you think of improving energy efficiency in homes, you probably think of new houses, apartment buildings, and office spaces with high energy standards. However, there are plenty of ways to make older homes more energy efficient. In this blog post, we’ll cover everything you want to know about how to make your old house eco-friendly, so let’s dive in to learn more.

What Are Energy-Efficient Homes?

Energy efficiency is one of the most crucial considerations when building or buying a home. An energy-efficient home is well insulated and airtight, with high-efficiency heating and cooling systems that help keep utility bills low. It’s outfitted with low-flow accessories to lower water consumption and heating costs.

Furthermore, an energy-efficient house is also designed to take advantage of natural lighting and passive solar panels, which can further reduce energy costs. In addition to being more affordable to operate, energy-efficient homes are also more environmentally friendly, as they produce less pollution and help to conserve resources.

When searching for a new home or upgrading your older home, consider its energy efficiency rating. You may be surprised how much money you can save over the life of your home by choosing an energy-efficient model.

Why Is Energy Efficiency Important?

While conserving energy may initially sound like a tedious and expensive proposition, the truth is that making your house more energy efficient can have a profound impact on both your quality of life and your wallet. Here are some reasons why improving energy efficiency in the home is important:

• Protect the environment

Energy efficiency is important to protect the environment. By reducing energy use, you can help save the planet for future generations.

• Reduce your energy bill

Using less energy means lower bills. Energy-efficient appliances and light bulbs will cost more upfront but will let you save money over time.

• Earn a great return on your investment

Energy-efficient options may have a higher initial price tag, but over the product’s service life, you will see energy savings that more than offset the initial premium. So when it’s time to update your historic homes’ windows, doors, appliances, or HVAC system, be sure to consider energy efficiency as part of your decision-making process.

• Enhance your quality of life

By sealing air leaks, adding insulation to walls, and taking other measures to reduce heat loss, you can maintain your house at a steady temperature without blasting the AC or heat pump, saving money on energy costs. Modern energy-saving appliances are typically quieter and more dependable than their older counterparts. It aims to improve energy efficiency in homes and, thus, increase your quality of life.

• Increase your property value 

Making an older home or historic building more energy efficient increases its value and comfort. Because energy-efficient structures cost less to run, they appraise for more.

• Help you save energy that easily cuts costs

Switching from halogen to led light bulbs and unplugging appliances may save a lot of energy over time. Because these improvements reduce energy expenses, you’ll have more savings.

• Earn incremental returns on energy efficiency investments

Unlike most home upgrades, investing in energy efficiency will pay for itself through lower energy consumption.  A programmable thermostat, energy-efficient washing machines, power strips, and lights may lower energy costs.

• Insulate yourself from rising electricity prices

Energy-efficient homes consume less electricity than less efficient homes, so they’re more insulated from increasing electricity bills.

How to Make Your Home More Energy Efficient

Making your old home energy efficient doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. With a few simple renovations, you can make your home more comfortable and save money on energy bills. Here are some tips on how to improve energy efficiency at home:

Upgrade Your Windows

Older windows can leak warm air in winter and cold air in summer. New double-glazed windows may save heating and cooling expenses and make your home more comfortable.

Use Energy-Efficient Light Bulbs

Changing to energy-efficient light bulbs can reduce your electricity cost. Led bulbs to use less energy than incandescent bulbs and last longer, so they’re more cost-effective. Plus, they release less heat, keeping your home cooler in summer.

Get a Tankless Water Heater

Upgrading to a tankless water heater will reduce your bills on your electric bill and free up space in your basement or utility closet. Tankless water heaters heat the water based on your demand, so you only power up when needed. They’re also much smaller than traditional water heaters, so they take up less space.

Update and Design Your HVAC System

Your HVAC system accounts for a substantial amount of your energy usage, so it’s important to ensure it’s running efficiently. Make sure you choose an HVAC with a high rating from Energy Star. It’s important to maintain and update it to help keep it in good condition and prevent costly repairs down the road. When designing your new HVAC system, be sure to consult with a professional to ensure it’s sized correctly for your home.

Improve Your Appliances’ Energy Efficiency

An easy step you can take on how to make an old home more energy efficient is to replace your appliances. Newer models can help you conserve energy, so investing in some new appliances is worth investing in. You’ll save money on your heating bill and help the environment simultaneously.

To find out how much energy your appliances are using, check the yellow EnergyGuide label. This label will tell you how much electricity an appliance uses per year. You can also find an appliance’s energy efficiency rating by looking for the Energy Star label.

Improve Your Insulation

Another way to make your home more energy efficient is to improve insulation. Good insulation keeps heat in throughout the winter and cool air in during the summer. This can help you reduce your expenses on your heating and cooling bills. You can add insulation to your attic, walls, floors, and crawl spaces. You can seal gaps and cracks around doors and windows to keep heat from escaping.

Use a Fireplace Insert

If you have a fireplace, you can make it more energy efficient by using a fireplace insert. Fireplace inserts fit into your existing fireplace and help keep heat from escaping up the chimney. They also improve the efficiency of your fireplace by providing better airflow. Fireplace inserts come in both wood-burning and gas models. You can choose the model that best fits your needs.

What Is The Purpose Of Energy Star?

Energy Star aims to minimize greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollutants contributing to climate change. It works with utility companies, businesses, and individuals to promote energy-efficient products and practices. In line with this, this program helps businesses save energy by developing energy-efficiency benchmarks, certifying products as energy-efficient, and providing technical assistance and training.

How Much Energy Consumed Every Year In Canada?

In terms of energy, Canada is a large country with many resources. Canadians consume an average of 13,654 kWh of electric energy per year. This adds up to a total of 522.20 billion kWh per year for the entire country.

Final Thoughts

Making your old home more energy efficient doesn’t have to be a huge undertaking—even small changes can make a big difference. Knowing the difference between what an efficient home is, you can now take the next step in upgrading your old home without breaking the bank.

By implementing the helpful tips mentioned above, such as upgrading your windows, using energy-efficient light bulbs, and updating and designing your HVAC system, will help you achieve an eco-friendly, lower energy bill home.