Making Your Home Energy Efficient

According the the Environmental Protection Agency, the average household spend over $2,200 on annual energy bills. This can partially be attributed to our inefficient homes, which often feature leaky windows, under insulated attics, and outdated AC units. The U.S. Green Building Council discusses five areas that can help make your home more energy efficient--thus saving you money in bills and creating a more comfortable home. The first area deals with insulation, used to keep warm air inside during the winter. Seal air leaks around baseboards and the edge of flooring. Seal attic space by adding extra insulation. Second, install double or triple-pane windows for best results. Adding a tint to your windows is a less expensive way to make existing windows more energy efficient. Third, upgrade older appliances with Energy Star appliances. Fourth, replace the furnace--especially if it was built prior to 1992. Furnaces build before than probably have a standing pilot, which wastes 35% of the fuel it uses. Finally, swap incandescent light bulbs with compact florescent lamps and LEDs. These can reduce electricity usage by 75%!