How to Upgrade a Home to Make It Energy Efficient

When electricity costs spike and gas prices skyrocket, homeowners turn to energy-efficient construction and products around the house to combat rising energy costs. Even minor upgrades to a home can result in substantial savings. While the upfront cost of "green" materials often exceeds the sticker price of more conventional models, the long-term savings frequently balance out, and the government sometimes offers tax credits for buying energy-efficient materials. Homeowners have several ways to upgrade a home to make it energy efficient, with some options fitting into almost any budget.

Instructions

- 1
  Reduce the amount of air leaking out of the house. Walk around the house and feel for drafts and then seal any cracks or holes with expanding insulating spray foam — especially in the attic and around doors and windows. Replace the weatherstripping around doors to create a tighter seal.
- 2
  Upgrade your appliances. Appliances with the Energy Star logo use less energy than other models — sometimes significantly less.
- 3
  Seal your duct work. According to the Energy Star website, approximately 20 percent of the air moving through the ducts in a typical house is lost to poor seals and connections. Hire an HVAC specialist to tighten things up to reclaim that lost energy.
- 4
  Replace parts of your walls, roof and floors with more energy-efficient materials. You can even replace traditional wooden-stud wall frames with newer, more energy-efficient construction techniques, such as optimized valve engineering, structural insulated panels and insulating concrete forms. Even if you can't afford new materials and construction, replacing your existing insulation with high R-valued insulation can result in noticeable heat retention.
- 5
  Insulate your water. Installing a water heater jacket or blanket can increase heat retention up to 45 percent, and wrapping your water pipes in an insulation wrap helps even more.
- 6
  Put in new windows and doors. Homes can lose up to 25 percent of their energy through poorly insulated windows, according to Pueblo Colorado's Federal Citizen Information Center. Look for energy- efficient windows and doors labeled with the Energy Star logo.
- 7
  Schedule an energy audit. Many electric companies offer a comprehensive energy audit at low or no cost, which can help identify other areas of improvement.

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