Energy Efficient Home Improvements- A Small Budget Can Make a Big Impact
When it comes to making your home more energy efficient, you don’t have to have a huge budget or be worried about complete renovations. There are many little things that you can do around the home to make a bigger impact than you might realize. Typically, people will replace windows, appliances, and find renewable sources of energy to improve their home’s efficiency. However, when you have a small budget, you might not be able to do all of these things. Instead, here are some great ideas for making little improvements that will save a lot of money.
-Change your window coverings. If you can’t replace your windows, using blinds or curtains that will help keep out the heat or cold is a great idea. You can find thermal blinds and curtains at just about any home store, in a variety of colors and designs to suit your needs.
-Check for insulation and re-insulate where needed. If your windows are drafty or you have areas of your home that are more climate-affected than others, consider re-insulating those areas. This will make your home more sound and also keep out the elements, allowing you to save on heating and cooling bills. It can also help with weather-related damages or insects that you might have issues with.
-Never underestimate the power of caulk. Caulk is a very inexpensive solution for all types of uses. Whether you need to re-seal around the faucets to save water or if you need to seal drafts and cracks around your windows, caulk can do it all. Anyone can use a caulking gun and for less than $20, you can increase the energy efficiency of your home.
-Consider changing to CFL (compact fluorescent light) bulbs. These lights are much more energy efficient and can last up to 3 years or longer in many common fixtures. This is a quick fix for energy savings that will cost under $100, even if you replace every bulb in your home.
These might seem like insignificant changes, but they can add up very quickly. When you can’t afford to renovate your whole house or buy replacement windows, you can still make improvements. Too many people don’t think about the little things, but the energy savings that you will get from small changes matters just as much as the savings that would come from big changes like new windows or appliances. Start small, because you can always work your way up to bigger improvements later.
