5 Cheap Ways to Improve Your Home’s Energy Efficiency

Any step you take to improve your home’s energy efficiency is a step in the right direction. The rising energy prices, coupled with the increasing concern around climate change, have led both manufacturers and consumers to think of innovative ways to reduce energy consumption. 

As the current global situation has driven most of us indoors, our heaters and air-conditioners are working harder than ever. The time we would have spent outside is now finished at home, pushing our energy bills higher than usual. So now is as good as time as any to start thinking about ways of improving your home’s energy efficiency. 

The good news is that you don’t necessarily have to spend a lot of money to achieve greater energy efficiency. Some small changes can go a long way in reducing your household energy consumption.

5 Cheap Ways to Improve Your Home’s Energy Efficiency

Reducing energy consumption through your electrical devices is an excellent place to start. 

Switch Off Devices When Not in Use

It is no doubt instrumental in having your devices on standby mode, but you will be saving a lot of unnecessary waste if you switch off the devices when they are not in use. And don’t forget to turn off the lights when you leave a room. You will be amazed at how much difference such small actions make.

Make Laundry More Energy Efficient

When you are washing your clothes, use the water or energy-saving setting. Also, avoid using the dryer for drying your clothes. Just leave them out in the air to dry. 

Save Water

Make sure that all faucets, taps, and cisterns are working correctly. Even a tiny drip can lead to a loss of about 2000 liters per year. Also, if you insert water-saving showerheads, you will be able to reduce water consumption significantly. 

Get a Smart Thermostat

If you want to get more out of your heating and cooling system without replacing them, you can opt for a smart thermostat. Smart thermostats allow you to set schedules for your boiler to turn on and off. You can also select areas of the house you want to heat, with the option of setting different temperatures for different rooms. If you are only using your office, there is no point in heating the whole house at the same temperature.  

Work on Your Windows

One of the most effective ways of reducing energy consumption is through proper insulation. As heating and cooling account for most of our energy usage, taking steps to keep the room temperature steady will help keep the energy consumption down. 

Most of the heat transfer happens through the windows. Even when you have double-glazed windows, you will still find a lot of energy loss occurs through the windows. The answer to this problem lies in window treatment solutions. Although most window treatment solutions provide some insulation, some window treatments are made explicitly for saving energy. Let’s start with the most cost-effective ones.

Cellular Shades

Cellular shades will give you the most value for your money when it comes to saving energy. You will be spoiled for choices when you are out shopping for cheap cellular shades. These shades are made from cell-like structures that act as air pockets. These air pockets act as a formidable insulating barrier against heat and noise transfer. As a result, your room remains cool during the summer and hot during the winter, saving you a substantial amount on your energy bills. 

The shades can be customized to achieve varying light control levels, from soft diffused light to room darkening effect. The fabric of the shadows is very lightweight, making them ideal for any odd-shaped windows. Cellular shades are also available in a variety of designs. The TDBU Cordless design is beneficial for saving energy. You can open both the top and bottom on the shade, settling them somewhere in the middle. This feature keeps a significant portion of your windows covered while letting in natural light. So, while you enjoy the sunlight and the view, your shades continue to protect heat transfer.

Woven Wood Blinds

If you live in a place where you need to trap the cold air, the woven wood blind is a great solution. The natural blinds are great at keeping heat out and letting in circulation. With these blinds, you will be able to keep your AC use to the minimum. 

Their easy maintenance only rivals the natural beauty of these blinds. Perfect addition for sunrooms and conservatories, these blinds sketch beautiful patterns on the floor and fill the room with a soft, diffused light. These blinds would be a gorgeous and cost-effective addition to any space available in various shades and designs.

Solar Shades

If you are looking to make the most natural light, conserve energy, go for solar shades. These shades provide excellent protection against UV rays while letting in plenty of natural light. The shades also allow you a partial view of the outside while keeping the privacy intact. 

These shades are very effective in keeping the room cool during the summer and hot during the summer. You can select to have varying opacity levels, ranging from 3% and going up to 15%. For more excellent illumination, go for a higher percentage of openness, while less opacity will provide more excellent protection against UV rays. Nevertheless, the fabric opacity will not hamper its ability to insulate your room. With these shades, enjoy the full benefit of natural light without any worries about losing energy.

As you see, not all energy-saving solution has to be expensive. It is the cumulative effect of multiple methods that will yield the best results and keep your household energy consumption to the minimum.