ECO-FRIENDLY HOME UPGRADES

For a More Efficient Home

Summer is quickly approaching which means triple digit temperatures! No matter how long you have lived in this beautiful state of Arizona, nothing quite prepares you for living for a few months in this type of heat. Most of us take comfort inside of our air-conditioned homes during this time of year. But that comes with its own drawbacks, mostly the cost it takes to cool a home. So, what can we do to make our home eco-friendlier year-round, but also help you cut costs in the summer months? We have a few helpful tips for you!

Energy Efficient Appliances

Whenever we are building a home or remodeling one, we always recommend some of the newer appliances that are on the market. Yes, they look more modern and sleeker, but we love how energy efficient they are too! You shouldn’t be spending more money to run a less efficient appliance that you use daily, it should be saving you money! Here are some of the types of appliances that now have energy efficient models that can help you save in the long run:

• Dishwashers
• Televisions
• Washing machines
• Refrigerators
• Ceiling fans
• Smart thermostats – we HIGHLY recommend making the switch to a smart thermostat because it will immediately start saving you money and cooling your home more efficiently

New Windows & Doors

For those of us who don’t live in brand new homes, we know all too well that windows and doors can let heat into the home during these hot months. Some older homes use single pane windows, and they just don’t stand up to triple digits. When you upgrade to newer windows, you are giving your home a fighting chance at keeping the heat outdoors where it belongs. This is also why we recommend updating your older doors to get a tight seal which will keep the heat (and the bugs!) out.

Energy Efficient Lighting

Lastly, if you upgrade to only one efficient item in your home, let it be LED lighting! It’s one you can do yourself and it will immediately start saving you money. LED bulbs use up to 90% less energy than your standard light bulbs. They really speak for themselves, and you can run to your hardware store now and start saving money.

Don’t wait for the summer months to start heating up your home to watch your electric bill skyrocket, make some of these changes today and thank yourself later! For those of you who are considering a new build or a remodel, talk to your contractor about energy efficient upgrades you can include in the project that will help your home run more efficiently long term. Need more help trying to figure it all out? Give Alan a call!