Solar panels keep becoming more and more popular around the country as the price of photovoltaic panels keeps on reducing. Even though producing electricity of your own is an attractive decision financially, there are a number of do-it-yourself home improvement projects which can help make your home more energy efficient as well. Let’s take a look at some of them:
Programmable thermostats
Heating and cooling account for almost half of the average home’s energy consumption. There are a number of homes which you a lot of this wasted energy in order to maintain the temperature when there is no one inside. Leaving the air conditioning on throughout the day may ensure your home is cool once you get back but it increases costs significantly. Turning off the thermostat isn’t the solution either as the thermostat will have to work overtime to cool your home when you turn it on. With a programmable thermostat, you will find the right zone between both these options. You can simply set it to a higher temperature while you are at work and then let it dial back to a cooler temperature an hour before you get home.
Caulk gun
One way of improving the efficiency of your HVAC unit is to seal everything up. Most homes, especially the old ones, have air gaps where the elements enter your home from. These gaps can counter the advantages of even the most effective air conditioning unit. You can get a caulk gun at any home improvement store. Use it to seal cracks around windows and in doorways. Plug them up using adhesive silicone beads. You will recover the money spent in no time.
Insulate
This does require a little more work but it is just as beneficial as either of the above solutions. Just how a wool cap helps keep your entire body warm, simply insulating your attic is going to have a huge impact on the retention of heat inside your home. Warm air molecules move faster as compared cold air molecules. That’s why they expand. By expanding, they become lighter than the dense, cold air molecules and rise up through the ceiling and into your attic. Spray foam or fiberglass insulation will slow down this heat and prevent it from going out through your roof. This is a cost friendly project which will certainly help you save a lot of money in the long run.
Conclusion
So if you are looking at ways in which you can save money, consider these cost-effective projects and you won’t just be saving money but will be doing your part for the environment as well. What more could you ask for?
