When it comes to making your home more energy efficient, you may have to spend a little to save a lot. And, like most good investments, energy-efficient home improvements may require you to be in it for the long haul in order to see the maximum return on your investment.
Still, if you’re planning to be in your current home for several years, a long-term investment in improved energy efficiency can make sound dollar sense for your family.
Energy-efficient improvements can help reduce energy use, lower utility bills and cut your home’s environmental impact. Some improvements, like installing skylights or solar water heating systems, can boost the healthfulness - and your enjoyment - of your home.
SkylightsCooling and electricity make up the largest chunk of nearly every home’s annual utility bill. Installing a skylight can actually help you lower cooling costs and electric bills. In fact, installing Energy Star-qualified skylights, along with qualified windows and doors, can lower energy bills 7 percent to 15 per cent compared to non-qualified products, according to
EnergyStar.gov .
Because skylights admit abundant natural light, they can help lower your home’s dependence on artificial light sources - meaning you’ll use less electricity to light your home. They are also an outstanding method of passively venting moisture, fumes and volatile organic compounds from your home, so they can help improve indoor air quality as well.
Venting skylights also admit cool breezes, to help lower cooling costs when indoor temperatures may be too warm to be comfortable but not hot enough to warrant turning on the air conditioning.
When properly installed, skylights are no more prone to leaks than any other properly installed, quality window in your home.
Solar water heatingSolar power is gaining broad acceptance as a cost-effective way to reduce utility costs. Solar water heaters, in particular, have attained a level of reliability that makes them competitive with traditional water heating products. But when it comes to cost savings, comparisons pale between traditional and solar water heating systems.
Although the cost of installing a system may be quite high, savings can be dramatic, with an average reduction of up to 80 per cent in the cost of heating water for your home. When you consider that water heating tends to be second only to air conditioning when it comes to electricity consumption in your home, that could be quite significant WH
Energy-efficient home improvements can be right on so many levels - from doing something good for the environment to making a change that can save you money in the long run.