Energy and Money Saving Tips for Your Home

Energy and Money Saving Tips for Your Home

Recently built houses are usually designed to be energy efficient: they are well insulated, airtight and have high-performing heating and cooling systems that minimize energy overconsumption. 

 

Thankfully, it is possible to improve an older home’s energy efficiency to reduce one’s power use and to save money. Here’s how.

Switch to Smart Appliances

You have probably heard of the Energy Star product standard, but how familiar are you with smart devices? They can save you money by helping you track your appliances’ energy use. For example, the app can send an alert if you have not properly closed your refrigerator door or if one of your appliances requires repair. A smart thermostat is also a good option. It will set itself based on your habits. For instance, if you always turn down the heat before going to bed, the smart thermostat will do it for you. How convenient!

Seal Everything You Can

As a house ages, cracks can appear through which air can leak in or out. It is important to seal them by caulking around windows and doors or installing weatherstripping. You can also choose to replace your old windows with new energy-efficient models. You should likewise seal all the home’s duct joints to prevent hot air from escaping. Simply apply duct tape to all visible joints. By making sure warm and cool air stay in the duct work, you can avoid unnecessarily increasing your electricity bill.

Stop Paying for What You Don’t Use

All your phones, computers, game consoles and other similar gadgets continue to consume energy in sleep mode, i.e. when you aren’t using them. It is recommended that you plug your tech and kitchen devices into a programmable power bar which can be set to shut down when none of your devices are in use. Another option is to replace your electrical outlets with the smart version. Once installed into your sockets, the energy consumption of any device you plug into them can be easily managed from your cellphone. 

Other Quick Tips

You can also try the following to save energy and cash:

·      Turn the air conditioner off at night and use a fan instead to beat the heat.

·      When possible, hang your clothes to dry, and when you must turn on the dryer don’t let it run too long.

·      Clean the back and filters of your appliances (e.g. washer, dryer, refrigerator) so that the motor doesn’t have to work so hard.

·      Avoid leaving your charger always plugged into the outlet as it continues to consume energy even when not powering up your smartphone.

·      Another interesting bit of advice is to plant bushes, hedges and small trees around your residence at approximately 30 cm from the exterior walls to create a natural barrier that will keep your house cool in summer and warm in winter.

All these small actions will add up to big savings… for you and the planet!

RE/MAX Québec

By RE/MAX Québec

By RE/MAX Québec

A leader in the real estate industry since 1982, the RE/MAX network brings together the most efficient brokers.