Energy efficiency is one of the best ways to save on solar! It’s simple really, the more efficient your home or business is, the less energy it uses, the less solar you need to cover your energy use. SES’s territory manager, Ben Perry spent a big part of his career in energy efficiency and he’s passed along some suggestions on reducing your energy needs.
Here are steps Ben recommends for increasing your home’s energy efficiency:
- No-cost improvements for saving energy is simple behavioral changes such as turning the thermostat up in summer and down in winter, turning off lights, computers, and other appliances when not in use, reducing hot water usage, and reducing the use of high-energy appliances such as ovens, stoves, hot tubs and pool or fountain pumps.
- Low-cost improvements include: 1. Replacing incandescent and CFL lamps with LED lighting, 2. Installing occupancy sensors for lighting and programmable thermostats for HVAC units, 3. Air sealing gaps and cracks around the home and in HVAC ductwork, 4. Improving ventilation in attics
- Moderate-cost improvements include: 1. Improving insulation in attics, basements and crawlspaces, 2. Replacing older appliances with new Energy Star appliances
- Higher-cost improvements include: 1. Replacing HVAC systems with higher efficiency units, 2. Upgrading Water Heaters to higher efficiency units. 3. Installing smart-home systems to help manage energy use in the home.
- Before tackling any of the moderate or higher cost items, Ben recommends that homeowners have a home energy audit performed to identify the major opportunities for energy savings and to focus efficiency improvements in those areas.
- For more information you can go to the US Dept of Energy’s Energy Saver Guide linked here.
