Are you looking for ways to make your home more eco-friendly? There are many simple and affordable upgrades that will save energy and money. Plus, many eco-friendly home upgrades will pay for themselves in the long run. These include adding insulation and switching to LED bulbs or energy-efficient appliances. So, if you’re looking to make your home more eco-friendly while paying off the costs of the switch, be sure to consider these upgrades!
Smart Home Upgrades
Adding smart home upgrades, like a smart thermostat, is a great way to save money on your energy bill. Smart thermostats allow you to control the temperature in your home when you’re away, and they’re also typically programmable, so you can set up schedules for when no one is at home.
Some other smart home upgrades that can help you save money include:
- Smart plugs, which turn on and off according to a schedule
- Smart switches, which allow for different levels of lighting other than just “on” and “off”
- Smart blinds, which make it easier to control how much light gets into a room and thus the temperature
In addition to helping save energy, in some cases the smart tech has a high ROI. The amount of time it would take for an upgrade to pay itself off varies, but smart home upgrades help to start saving on energy bills almost immediately.
Switch to LED Bulbs
While LED lights cost more than incandescent lighting up front, LED bulbs use up to 75% less energy, so making the switch can save you a lot of money on your energy bill. Not only that, but LED bulbs also last longer. Estimates say they can last up to 25 times longer than their incandescent counterparts, so you won’t have to replace them as often.
Between the money saved on the energy bill and the money saved by having fewer replacements to buy, making the switch to LED bulbs is a great upgrade. And they should last long enough to pay for themselves, thanks to their durability.
Insulation
Upgrading your insulation is a great way to make your home more energy-efficient and save money on energy bills. In fact, many insulation upgrades can pay for themselves in just a few years.
One of the best ways to upgrade your insulation is by focusing on your attic, where there’s the most heat loss. There are several kinds of insulation, ranging from spray foam for the roof to roll-on or loose-fill for the floor. As another benefit, federal tax credits may be available to help pay some of the cost.
There’s also the option of adding insulation to your home’s walls if there isn’t already some present.
Energy-Efficient Appliances
Appliances are among the most expensive purchases people make, which means it may take longer for an energy-efficient one to pay for itself. That said, there’s no denying that switching to an energy-efficient dishwasher or fridge will save money on your energy bill. And in some cases, there are government incentive programs to encourage you to buy energy-efficient products.
Some of the most common energy-efficient appliances (ones with the Energy Star rating) include washers and dryers, refrigerators, and dishwashers. They can save water or electricity — or both! — and can end up saving between 10 and 50 percent of energy.
Use Low-Flow Fixtures
The average family of four uses more than 300 gallons of water per day in the United States. That’s a lot of water, which can add up to a big bill at the end of the month. But there are ways to reduce your water usage without major changes to your lifestyle.
One way is to switch out your regular showerheads and faucets for low-flow fixtures. Low-flow fixtures use less water than their traditional counterparts, meaning you can save money on your monthly water bill. These fixtures are also relatively inexpensive, so the water bill savings should recoup the fixture’s cost before long.
Save Energy and Money With These Upgrades
Homeowners can take many steps to make their homes more sustainable and energy-efficient. Smart home upgrades, insulation, energy-efficient appliances, LED bulbs, and low-flow fixtures are all great ways to make your home more sustainable and lower energy costs.
Many of these upgrades will pay for themselves over time through lower energy bills. So if you’re looking for ways to save money and be more sustainable, consider making some of these home upgrades today.
Photo by Vinicius “amnx” Amano on Unsplash.
