Creating an Energy Efficient Home

During these difficult financial times, everyone is looking to see where they can cut their costs, squeeze a little more out of there pennies and stop throwing money away. One of our biggest money eaters are our houses.

When we purchase a home, we don't always look to see if the appliances are energy efficient, or the lights, we really don't notice the lighting. What about the windows and doors? Or the insulation? I know that when I look at a house, I see the house, what it will look like when we move in, how I could make it mine.

After buying the house, you receive your first hydro and utility bills. We have received some OUTRAGEOUS bills in the past. Those bills have prompted us into finding ways to cut our costs in our homes.

• The easiest and probably most affordable first step, is changing all the lightbulbs.  The new ones take some getting used to, but it is worth it when you start to see the savings.  It may just be a small savings to start with, but boy, do those pennies add up!  Another easy way to start with making your home more efficient is by checking your appliances.  Do they have the energystar rating?  If not, it may be worth it in the long run to replace some of those and move up to a newer model.  The savings that you will see down the road will astound you! 
• An energy audit is also something that would be beneficial.  The company or organization will come to your house and assess how efficient or non-efficient it is.  They also give you great suggestions to lower your costs and make the house more energy friendly.  Some of these audits will qualify for a government rebate, depending where you live.
• There are also rebates for window and door replacement.  The windows tend to be the draftiest areas of a house, especially if you have an older home with original windows.  You can do some research to find a company that can meet your needs with door and window replacement and they may even be able to point you in the right direction for the rebate that would pertain to you.  Windows can be rebated up to $80 each!  Not bad!

If you go through the rebate list, you can see some other great ways of improving your home.  Solar panels, solar hot water heaters, high-efficiency furnaces, new insulation, new low-flush toilets...the sky is the limit with what you can do.

Just think, with all the extra money that you save from these improvements, you may be able to take a trip away from all the cold, snowy drafts and head to Florida for a break from all your hard work!!