Can you suggest some efficiency upgrades that can help lower energy bills?

In today’s tight economy, every penny counts. And while upgrading your facilities and machinery to become more energy-efficient may involve some expense up front, our energy gurus will be the first to tell you those investments will yield huge savings in the long run. Read on to find out what they suggested are some effective ways for you to cut consumption:

Josh Prigge

Owner and Founder of Sustridge.

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Energy recovery ventilator, smart thermostat, and solar panels

It is important to first be tracking and reviewing energy use. Collect your monthly utility bills and track the total amount of energy used per month so you can see when use increases and decreases. An important point to all things related to sustainability is that you cannot manage what you don’t measure!

A few other tips that can be effective in lowering energy bills are:

1. LED Lighting: Replace conventional bulbs with energy-efficient LED lights to save on electricity costs.
2. Insulation: Improve home insulation to reduce heating and cooling expenses.
3. Energy recovery ventilator (ERV): Install ERVs. They work by exchanging stale indoor air with fresh outdoor air while retaining the energy used to heat or cool the indoor air, thereby reducing the load on your HVAC system.
4. Smart Thermostat: Use a programmable thermostat to optimize temperature settings and reduce energy consumption.
5. Solar Panels: Install solar panels to generate clean, renewable energy and lower utility bills.

David Nicholas

Professional Electrician and Founder of SparkyBase.com.

Install motion sensor controls

Businesses and homeowners implement motion sensor control to their lighting systems to help save energy. Motion sensor technology has been around for a while, but many of the new energy-saving light bulbs have motion sensors already built in. It has never been easier (or cheaper) to implement the technology and reap the energy-saving benefits. Not only do motion sensor controls prevent lighting from being mistakenly left on and wasting valuable energy, they also are often much more convenient than traditional switches, saving the need to hunt around in the dark looking for that elusive wall switch.

Jay Sanders

Owner of Castle Dream Construction.

Well-insulated windows

Windows! Many people underestimate the power of a well-insulated window. If your windows have unsealed edges, cracks, or only have a single sheet of glass, you are throwing money out the door (literally) every time you turn on your furnace or central air!

Window tech has advanced so much in the last decade that you should absolutely consider a window upgrade to help lower your energy bills and properly regulate your home’s temperature. If new windows are not an option, at least have someone come in and spruce them up by adding proper seals, repairing cracks, and even installing insulation.

Keith Sant

Head Of Property Acquisitions of Texas Cash House Buyer.

Replace inefficient HVAC systems, install LED lighting and programmable thermostats

Here are some energy efficiency upgrades that can help lower energy bills:

1. Replace outdated or inefficient HVAC systems. Many older homes have inefficient heating and cooling systems that are costing you money in the form of higher utility bills. Investing in a new, energy-efficient HVAC system can save you up to 30% on your monthly energy bill.

2. Install LED lighting throughout your home. LEDs use a fraction of the energy that traditional light bulbs do. LED lighting also lasts much longer than incandescent bulbs, so you won’t need to replace them as often.

3. Install a programmable thermostat. This will allow you to set the temperature of your home when you’re away or sleeping, so that it’s not running unnecessarily and wasting energy.

4. Add insulation to your attic and walls. Properly insulating your home can reduce your energy bills by up to 20%.

5. Install Energy Star-rated appliances. If your appliances are more than five years old, they may not be as efficient as newer models. Investing in new Energy Star-rated appliances can help you save money and energy on a monthly basis.

This is a crowdsourced article. Contributors’ statements do not necessarily reflect the opinion of this website, other people, businesses, or other contributors.

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