As we grow in technological sophistication, more and more technologies have come to the fore to make your home more energy efficient and minimize your carbon footprint. Besides decreasing your carbon footprint, making your home energy efficient just makes good financial sense – and it helps the environment. We’ve listed below some of the more popular technologies that can make your home more energy efficient.
Solar Panels
Solar panels are the most popular and well-known system for residential and commercial energy efficiency. Unfortunately, it’s also one of the most expensive in upfront costs. Although in recent years, the cost has reduced dramatically. Mainly because the technology has gotten so much better and the cost to manufacture has dropped as it is offered by many companies across the continent.
Many states and provinces offer tax deductibles and rebates for purchasing and installing solar panels that can really help you to recover much of the initial cost.
Rollshutters or Habitat Screens
Rollshutters are a good solution to make your home more energy efficient as it can act as insulation. Rollshutters can directly block sunlight to keep your home cool in the summer, and warm in the winter by not letting the warm air out. When paired with a sun sensor, rollshutters can provide automated relief from the intense heat of the sun during the summer.
Habitat Screens work in a similar way to rollshutters but instead of entirely blocking all of the sunlight, our screens block the harmful UV rays while not sacrificing your view. Consider sun sensors with your rollshutters or Habitat Screen purchase to maximize your energy savings.
Solar Water Heater
Solar water heaters have been around for quite some time now and they have been growing in popularity. Solar water heaters, naturally, work better in areas that are mostly sunny but can cut down on your electric bill especially if you have people in your household that take lengthy showers. Of course, the solar water heater needs a large tank, so that the heated water won’t run out quickly. These water heaters are much cheaper to install than solar panels, therefore, the initial expense can be recouped much faster.
Energy Saving Bulbs
Convenient, inexpensive and easy to install. Energy saving bulbs are everywhere and the savings they offer are proportionate to their cost. Changing your bulbs won’t require any outside help and won’t take more than 15 minutes to make your home more energy efficient – even if it’s just marginally.
Buy Energy Star Appliances
Energy Star appliances are noted to save energy and are certified by the US Department of Energy. However, these appliances do come at a premium and can sometimes cost as much as 25% more than regular appliances. The question is often asked if Energy Star appliances actually save you money on your energy bill. The answer is yes. Energy Star Appliances can save anywhere from 10%-50% of your energy bill.
