September 22, 2022

7 Home Renovations to Improve the Energy Efficiency

An environmentally friendly house is incredibly fulfilling. Numerous modest adjustments can be made to your home to increase its energy efficiency, even though you may believe renovations are time-consuming and expensive.

Renovation projects are frequently the ideal opportunity to consider strategies to improve your home’s energy efficiency. The decision-making process during this exciting time can be challenging and stressful. Among them are the house’s layout, insulation, heating, and cooling choices.

Your decisions made throughout the planning and design phases can save your heating and cooling expenses for many years while enhancing your comfort. Keeping that in mind, the following are some energy-efficient home renovations that you should consider:

Install a High-efficiency Solar Water Heater in Your Home

Fossil fuels such as oil and gas are the primary energy sources for most homes. The majority of newer gas-powered household boilers heat water as needed. Additionally, a lot of individuals use the most expensive way of all — electricity — for heating water.

Investing in high-efficiency solar water heaters is one approach to reducing the astronomical electricity costs associated with heating water. Solar water heaters will not only lower electricity costs but also provide various other benefits at an affordable price.

The solar panel harnesses the power of the sun. This implies that we owe nothing for the electricity we use. It is free and readily available daily because it’s a renewable energy source. You can determine how to tweak your panel to maximize performance in cloudy conditions.

Add New HVAC Ducts to Heated Area

A crucial component of the heating and cooling systems is HVAC ductwork. For any HVAC system, these conduits are required in a residence. Ducts are frequently invisible and simple to overlook; thus, it’s usual to undervalue their significance.

One justification for installing new HVAC ducts is thermal recovery, which uses heat conduction to reduce energy loss. It is often considered inefficient when heat is transferred through duct walls and warms the surrounding area. The heat may, however, also be advantageous if it permeates into the living space or heats the surroundings, making it harder for the heat to leave.

Without a doubt, the ideal approach to take advantage of heat recovery is to install the new ducts right away in an enclosed, insulated space. By doing this, any warm or cool air penetrating through the ducts is still utilized to control the air in the living area: Contact Air Doctor, the most trusted HVAC Frederick expert today.

Add an Extra Layer of Insulation in the Attic

To assist homeowners in determining if the insulation in their homes is enough for the climate in which they live, the U.S. Department of Energy has produced a fact sheet. While older homes—more than a few decades old—can sometimes benefit from an improvement, newer ones are frequently well-insulated.

Since “hot air rises,” the attic is one of the main places where heat is lost. In some homes, even those that are more recent, the space beneath the roof is not adequately insulated. An additional layer of insulation may save money and enable a homeowner to repay costs in just four or five years in a home that isn’t adequately insulated.

Upgrade your older HVAC systems

Nearly half of a household’s electrical cost goes toward heating and cooling systems. Nevertheless, investing in an updated HVAC system might result in long-term cost savings.

HVAC systems lose some of their energy efficiency as they age. The HVAC systems of today are made with greater energy efficiency in mind. A Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating (SEER) of 14 or greater is desirable in air conditioners and the Energy Star label. Greater ratings indicate more energy-efficient products.

Your annual energy cost can be significantly reduced thanks to these devices’ considerable energy consumption reduction. Additionally, an outdated HVAC system may need repairs more frequently. Regular HVAC repairs require more money out of your pocket than you’d like. You will ultimately save money and hassle by investing in a high-quality new HVAC installation.

Add Insulation Around Recessed Lights

Recessed lights, or can lights as they are also known, protrude into the attic and may not be sealed or insulated. They either allow the cooled air to exit swiftly or hot attic air to enter the room through the fixtures. Air leaks are typically reasonably simple to detect visually and, if not, physically.

There are typically gaps between the housing and the insulation around recessed lights that protrude into the attic, which allows hot air to enter and move downward. Recessed lights must be insulated to increase your home’s overall energy efficiency.

Upgrading your home insulation and getting professional air sealing

If you don’t have a good ventilation system, no amount of roof modifications will increase the energy efficiency of your house. Ensure that all of your home’s spaces, including the attics, crawl spaces, and basements, are adequately insulated and airtight.

This will assist in keeping the cool or warm air inside, lower your heating and cooling expenses, and raise the general comfort level in your house. To achieve the best results, seek professional assistance with insulation and air sealing.

Enhance Air Conditioning with Ceiling Fans

Ceiling fans produce a soft, pleasant breeze in addition to being decorative. More significantly, they support air circulation in your house. More than merely a summertime cooling device, ceiling fans can provide additional benefits. The hot air that rises to the ceiling can be circulated and blown back down into the space to conserve electricity during cooler months.

Final Words

If you want to enhance your home’s energy efficiency, these 7 home renovation tips will come in handy.

Follow me! @AirDoctorHVAC1