Energy-Efficient Home Upgrades That Will Save You Money
Improving your home’s energy efficiency and doing something to help the environment is a win-win situation. When thinking about how to be more energy-efficient grand ventures such as solar panels and electric cars may come to mind. But did you know ways to use energy more efficiently can be as simple as replacing windows and changing light bulbs? GreenCal Construction offers a variety of services to make your home more energy-efficient from new windows, to roofs to paint. Keep reading to find out how to help your home go green and how to save money on your energy bills.
How to Make an Old Home More Energy Efficient
If you’re looking to upgrade your old home to more energy-efficient house features consider updating your home’s windows, roof, paint, or doors.
Energy-Efficient Windows
Windows in older homes can be extremely drafty and cause outside air to leak in and out. By adding weatherstripping or sealing the frame with silicone caulk you can more easily maintain the temperature inside your home.
If you have single-pane windows, you’ll want to consider replacing them with energy-efficient windows. A double-pane energy star-rated window can immensely improve a home’s energy efficiency. Energy-efficient windows help maintain a consistent temperature inside your home which means you’ll be running AC and heatless and saving money on your energy bills.
Energy-Efficient Roofing Materials
If it’s time to replace your old roof opt for metal roofing or “cool roofs ” These energy-efficient roofs will reflect heat away from your home keeping the interior comfortable and cool.
Metal roofs, while expensive, are extremely energy efficient and can reflect up to 90% of the heat that hits them. A more cost-effective option is asphalt shingles with reflective granules. Similar to metal roofing, asphalt shingles reflect the sun’s rays and keep the roof cool therefore reducing the need to run air conditioning as frequently.
Energy-Efficient Painting
Believe it or not, paint is another energy-efficient home upgrade that can slash your electricity bill. GreenCal Construction is an authorized dealer of the TexCote® COOLWALL® exterior coating. This specialized paint is manufactured to reflect the sun’s rays instead of absorbing them and can effectively reduce surface temperatures by up to 40 degrees.
In addition to keeping your home cooler, this paint is fade-resistant and will keep the exterior of your house looking amazing. This specialized paint in addition to keeping your home cool is resistant to cracking, peeling, and fading and will look amazing while saving money on energy bills.
Interior Projects That Can Make Your Home More Energy Efficient
Energy-efficient home upgrades can be performed on the interior of your house as well! Selecting energy-efficient house features can be as simple as swapping light bulbs or adding insulation.
Replace Incandescent Bulbs with LED bulbs
LED bulbs last longer and use less energy than their incandescent counterparts. A home may have up to 40 light bulbs in it and by switching to LED’s you can cut down on your electricity bill.
Add Insulation to Your Attic
Similar to your windows, drafts can go in and out of your attic. Adding insulation to your attic will effectively stop leaks, keep your AC in your house and your power bill low.
Buy Energy Star Products
Energy star products are a great investment for energy-efficient home upgrades. Energy star offers a wide variety of products including refrigerators, washers, dryers, stoves, and air conditioners. These products use 10-50% less energy than an average appliance and meet energy standards set by the EPA. If it’s almost time to replace an appliance in your home, opt for an energy-star-rated product.
Increase your homes energy efficiency with GreenCal Construction
GreenCal Construction cares about your home and the environment and when it comes to energy-efficient upgrades, we are happy to talk you through your options. Our wide array of services covers roofs, windows, painting, and more and all of those can be made energy efficient. Contact us today to go green and to make your home look amazing. We look forward to working with you!
