As home builders in the DFW area, we’re familiar with the demands that people have of their houses. The “wish lists” we receive typically all have one thing in common: everyone wants to save energy and reduce their utility bills. It makes sense. Oil and electricity prices continue to soar, and with a down economy, every penny (or hundred dollars, rather), helps. Green energy is something everyone wants to use, but sources are not yet widely available. That being said, you will find several ideas in the following article to help you apply green energy in your home. Use this information to educate yourself about energy sources and better ways to care for the environment.
Lighting has changed immensely over the last couple decades, and one energy-efficient method for lighting a home that many consumers still have not taken advantage of is the energy-saving light bulb. These not only save you money on energy costs, but they also last longer. If you haven’t switched to energy-efficient light bulbs, now is the time. The quality and variety of these lights is better than ever. Turning off the lights when you are not in the room also helps you save energy.
A helpful tip to live greener and conserve energy is to have the windows in your home tinted. The windows in your home act like glass in a greenhouse. When you want your home to be cool, the windows will heat it up and work against your air conditioner, costing you a bundle. DFW homes are prone to being hammered by the sun. In fact, according to this study, we have the second highest energy bills in the U.S. That mainly comes from air conditioning being used in the summer. You’ll want to do everything you can to help your poor air conditioner run at optimal performance, and lower your overall energy expenditures.
Whenever possible, try to use a laptop computer, rather than a desktop. If the battery is full on your laptop, do not have it plugged into the charger. Desktop computers are perhaps one of the biggest energy users in your home, which makes owning a laptop advantageous.
If possible, install some new, high-performance windows that can improve your home’s energy-efficiency. While it can take a few years for these new windows to pay off in terms of energy savings, their benefits of extra comfort, better aesthetics, and better functionality can offset the cost in the short-term.
Program the air conditioning to run just one degree warmer during the summer and one degree cooler during the winter. You probably won’t even notice this difference in temperature, and you’ll save a lot of money and energy. In addition, your carbon footprint will decrease by about 14%.
There are no simple answers to the energy problems in our society today, but learning everything possible about energy sources is a good place to start. Bud Bartley Homes is here to help. Call your local DFW home builder, Bud Bartley Homes, at 972-318-3802 for more information.
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