How to Improve the Energy Efficiency of your Home in 2020
Filed under: Solar Installation
It can be simple to improve the energy efficiency of your home using by doing a few small changes. You need to be proactive if you want to reduce your energy usage and save money. Since we have just began a new year, have you considered the things you should be doing to upgrade the efficiency of your home? Here are a few options you might consider:
- Programmable Thermostat: Managing the use of your HVAC system is essential, since a large percentage of electricity use goes to running the air conditioning system. A programmable thermostat makes it easy to adjust the temperature based on the activities of your day. Many of these thermostats can be managed using your smartphone so that you can adjust the temperature from any location.
- Maximize Appliance Usage: If you are going to run a load of laundry or turn on the dishwasher, make sure you are maximizing the load every time. Washing half loads is a waste of energy and money. Instead, wait to run the appliance until you have a full load available. Also, try doing your laundry or using your appliances before 4 p.m. or after 9 p.m. – Many energy companies charge extra money for electricity used during their “peak hours.”
- Airtight Living Space: Check your home for areas where the cool air might be leaking outside. Adding weatherstripping around the doors can be beneficial in order to reduce the thermal transfer in the room, keeping the cool air inside. Also, check for places that need to be caulked, such as small gaps and cracks around the windows, pipes, and more.
- Invest in Energy Efficient Lightbulbs: You are going to use the lights regularly, so make sure you manage electricity usage by switching out your lightbulbs. Traditional incandescent light bulbs use more energy than LEDs. This upgrade is simple to make and can save you lots of money. It will cut down on the amount of electricity you use at your home.
- Install Solar Panels: Finally, don’t overlook the many benefits that come from installing solar on your home. If you make your home more energy efficient by doing the things listed above, you will use less electricity each month. Installing solar on your home would give you the opportunity to eliminate or greatly reduce your electric bills. Since you are making an electricity payment to your utility company each month any way, why not take advantage of a 0 down, 12 year solar loan. With no money out of pocket, you would pay what you typically pay for electricity each month or less. The monthly payment would be fixed for the next 12 years and you would not have to worry about the yearly increases from the utility company. There is also a 26% Federal Tax Credit available, that will cover 26% of what you pay for the solar system when you file your taxes for 2020. As an added bonus, both the solar panels and inverters come with a 25 year manufacturer’s warranty. You would pay the system off in 12 years or sooner and you would no longer have to be on the life-time payment plan with your utility company for your electricity.
For more information about residential solar, talk to our experienced team at New Day Solar. We have been installing solar electric systems for over 30 years and will always give you honest answers to your solar questions. We can design and install a solar electric system to meet your individual energy needs. Please call us for a free, no-obligation consultation with one of our team members at: (855) 444-6329 or visit us online at: www.newdaysolar.com.
