Heating and cooling your home can lead to a large carbon footprint which impacts not only your utility bill, but also the environment. There are several budget-friendly ways to heat or cool your home . Read on to find our four top tips for keeping your home cool or warm without harming the environment or your budget.
Purchase LED Bulbs
Traditional lightbulbs put out a lot of heat, and if you keep them running at night during the summer you may be creating pockets of hotter air around your home. Replace traditional lightbulbs with LEDs and you may notice a huge difference. LED lightbulbs don’t emit any heat and are more environmentally friendly than their counterparts.
Upgrade to a Programmable Thermostat
A programmable thermostat can help you shave a decent amount off your utility bill, while also keeping you from wasting unnecessary energy. A programmable thermostat allows you to turn your AC or heater on before you get home, which means you don’t have to worry about cranking your system to the max. Your house or apartment will have plenty of time to gradually reach the desired temperature.
It also keeps your HVAC system from running full-on while you aren’t at home and don’t need your house to be cool or warm. Programmable thermostats are also a great thing to have when you want to go on vacation!
Use Windows Wisely
Windows can be helpful in heating or cooling your home naturally. During the summer months, only open shades and windows when the sun goes down, so that you’re letting in the cooler night air. When the temperature drops during fall and winter, having your shades open during the day can let warming sunlight in. Just make sure to close them at night to prevent the heat from leaking out through the glass.
Having windows open during the day in the summer can also increase your air flow, which can decrease the hot stuffy feeling common during the summer. If you have extra wiggle room in your budget, consider buying thermal shades. These will keep your windows from affecting the temperature in your home until you raise them or tie them to the side.
Upgrade Your Insulation
The biggest budget item on this list is upgrading your insulation to environmentally friendly insulation. This can not only help you avoid negatively impacting the Earth, but can also seal up any leaks or drafts that may be affecting the internal temperature of your home. Old insulation often lets heat and cold air escape, which drives up utility bills due to over-expending energy. It can also cause allergies and other issues. Newer insulation, while expensive, can keep costs down over a long period of time.
Any of the above tips will help you keep your home cooler or warmer throughout the year while not damaging the environment or your budget. To keep your home safe, install a doorbell camera.
LEDs have certainly saved me a lot of money and energy! I’d recommend them to everyone. It can also give a better lighting compared to the bulb light.