The Future of Energy-Efficient Homes
Depending on your age, you may remember a time when homes only had one television set, there were no cellphones, iPads, or other devices that needed to be charged, and not every home had air conditioning!
Our homes are slowly looking more and more like the Jetsons’ home—a futuristic sitcom family. But with the increase in technology and devices, how are our homes and the environment handling this overload?
Let’s explore the future of energy-efficient homes and what you can do now to decrease your energy use and your electric bill…it’s a win-win for your wallet and the Earth!
The History of Energy-Efficient Homes
“Going green” might just seem like one of the newest fades or trends, but it is way more than that.
Sustainability is a huge industry that is rapidly expanding and for good reason. Just within the past 3 decades, humans are using 37% more energy to power their lives. But are our homes equipped for this extra energy consumption?
Thanks to recent government regulations and technical advances, powering a home today can use far less energy than a home from the 1980s.
Home Trends: Energy-Efficiency
Energy efficiency is for every type of home! Whether you are looking to sell your home, update your existing home, flip a house, or build a new dream home there are numerous ways that you can make your home “green.”
Here are four benefits to energy-efficient homes:
1. Money Savings
Energy-efficient homes can save you money, a benefit that provides instant gratification and reward. You will save money on your monthly energy bills as well as you may qualify for certain rebates.
2. Higher Comfort
Going green will increase the comfort level of your home by incorporating an air conditioner that creates less noise and better air distribution.
3. Healthier Living
A wonderful side-effect of energy-efficient homes is creating a healthier living environment. Greener homes decrease harmful pollutants that can poison our air and water.
4. Cleaner Environment
Going green contributes to a cleaner environment since the energy that is needed to run homes is produced more efficiently.
How To Make Your Home More Efficient
Energy-efficient homes save money, but there might be some upfront costs in upgrading your home. These upgrades are worthwhile as you may qualify for tax rebates for your energy-efficient upgrades, and you will save money on your monthly electric bill.
Our local electricians suggest these energy-efficient upgrades and features to your home:
Insulation: Not only does insulation reduce your heating and cooling costs, but it can also make your home quieter.
Upgraded windows: Replace your current windows with double-pane, Low-E (low emissivity) windows. These windows reduce outside noise as well as prevent air drafts to reduce heating and cooling costs.
Lighting: Thanks to technological advances, light bulbs can instantly reduce a home’s energy use by 50-75%. Replace any old incandescent light bulbs with more energy-efficient ones such as LEDs or CFLs. It’s that simple!
Solar panels: Let the sun do all the work! Installing solar panels can immediately decrease your energy costs. Never worry again about rising electricity rates. Solar panels are more than just a trend, they can make your energy bill $0 given enough time.
Sealing: Air sealing keeps out air drafts, mold, and allergens all while saving on energy costs. This is a win-win for your wallet and your health.
Water heaters: Change out your old water heater for a high efficiency or tankless water heater.
Energy Star appliances: Energy Star is more than just a label. Energy Star appliances have met strict energy-efficiency requirements set by the EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency).
These appliances are certified products that help you save energy and money without sacrificing performance, and oftentimes these appliances qualify for rebates.
Go Green Today!
The future is now, and energy-efficient homes are here to stay. There are many changes that you can make to go green and save some green all while being better for our environment! From LED lights to wiring for your AC and adding energy-star appliances to keeping them running well thanks to a gas-free backup generator, we’ll lend you a hand with energy-efficient electrical.
Ready to reduce your electric bills and make your home “green”? Our professional, experienced electricians will evaluate your home (or office) and show you how you can be more energy-efficient! Our 5-star team serves all of Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, and Orange County, FL. Call Axiom Power at (813) 308-9328 today!