Advantages of an Energy Efficient Home

During our modern era, you can hear a lot of concerns about energy efficiency more than before, like how important it is and how it can benefit you. As a homeowner, it is important to make the necessary adjustments to achieve energy efficiency in your home. Most people know that energy efficient homes can help them lessen their expenses on energy bills, but there are a lot more benefits to it than that.

Having an energy efficient home can:

1. Help you save money

As stated earlier, this is the most obvious and crucial advantage for many homeowners. Increased energy output can translate to bigger expenses when it comes to utilities, so using energy efficiently can help prevent that. The average US household spends $5,000 annually on energy, so upgrading your appliances to Energy Star-rated ones and changing your lights to LED bulbs can help you lessen that expense up to 30%. Being smart about spending energy can be felt in your wallet as well. As you start to become conscious of how energy in your home is spent, you’re saving yourself some significant bucks.

2. Improve comfort

An energy-efficient home is a comfortable home because of proper insulation. It has control of the flow of air, heat, and moisture, meaning no energy is wasted. It ensures that windows are sealed, proper installation is installed, mechanical ventilation systems work properly, and no cracks or leaks can be seen. In homes that lack energy efficiency, you may find areas close to windows and doors to be uncomfortably cool, and spots near the heating system to be unbearably hot. Meanwhile, in energy-efficient homes, the temperature stays constant within indoor spaces, keeping you comfy all day.

3. Keep air healthy and fresh

A blocked filter, a dirty furnace, and clogged ducts can make your AC system work harder and produce contaminated air indoors, so routine maintenance and cleaning are important. This can also reduce allergens, bacteria, and mold, which increases the air quality of your home.

An energy efficient home also has controlled airflow with mechanical ventilation. The air inside your home must be replaced with fresh air regularly to prevent moisture and odors, and a well-ventilated system can do that.

4. Reduce moisture issues

Speaking of moisture, it is expelled into the air inside your home through your kettles, microwaves, fish tanks, plants, and even people. When moisture or humidity levels reach more than 40%, it can create air quality problems inside the home. When humidity levels are above 50%, it can cause airborne diseases. To protect your health, moisture must be reduced and stale air should be replaced with fresh air for every three to four hours. An energy efficient home is designed to ensure proper ventilation and minimal air leaks, which prevents moisture issues.

5. Keep your household safe

As the supply of fresh air is maintained by an energy efficient home, it makes your indoor spaces a much safer place to live. Most people don’t realize that indoor air can be up to 10 times worse than outdoor air, as indoor spaces may contain harmful substances like mold, pollen, dust, asbestos, lead-based paint, and other pollutants. A sealed HVAC system with proper ventilation can keep your air clean while drawing in fresh air from outside.

6. Optimize the performance of your energy systems

Energy efficient appliances and lighting systems have optimal performance. Energy efficient air conditioners can improve air quality inside the home while costing you less in electric bills. An LED bulb uses less energy and lasts longer. Simply put, if your home systems are energy-efficient, they won’t have to work very hard, optimizing their performance and lengthening their lifespan. This saves you both money and hassle in the long run.

7. Increase resale value

For now, you may think you’d be staying in your home as long as you live, but somewhere along the future, you might decide to sell it or put it up for rent. By making your home energy efficient and by upgrading to Energy Star-rated appliances, you are making your house more attractive to potential buyers or tenants. Energy-efficient homes have longer lifespans, lower maintenance fees and cost less to operate. This is why it can sell faster or be quickly occupied by tenants. The increased indoor air quality, the proper amount of natural light and ventilation, proper insulation and cost-saving appliances can be your selling points.

8. Help save the environment

Lastly but most importantly, saving energy is beneficial for the environment. Every appliance or unit you use increases your carbon footprint and increases the number of greenhouse gases your house produces. Lowering these is a small yet important step to reducing the impacts of climate change. Having an energy efficient home can help ensure that you waste less energy, consume fewer units and eventually reduce carbon footprint.