An energy-efficient home could mean a house that has good insulation, airtight construction, and an excellent heat and air flow resulting in low utility bills.
These kinds of houses are comfortable, healthy, and kind to the environment. Many homeowners would want an energy-saving home because it not only gives them comfort and peace of mind; it will also be a very conducive place to live in every day.
So, how do you turn your houses into one? Here are some simple ways to do it.
Improve Home Insulation
You can start with the insulation condition of your house. Keeping your house well- insulated is vital because it will help maintain heat in cold days and adds cooling in the summer. You can cover your walls and the attic to manage the temperature inside your house.
Make Your Windows Airtight
Replace windows if you feel it does not help any longer with the heating and cooling process of your house. Choose new ones such as double panes and weather-stripping windows, which will trap heat in the winter and at the same time prevent cold air from escaping during summer. Wood, fibreglass and vinyl are also good options for window frames that can be filled with insulation. Adding blinds and solar shades can also minimise direct sunlight and heat entering the house.
Use Efficient Home Appliances
Purchasing the right appliances could also help in saving energy. It may be costly at first, but take into consideration the more extended period that you can use them efficiently, especially the refrigerator, which will run all day. The air conditioner should not be turned on all day and keep the thermostat at a comfortable level as well. Remember to unplug appliances not in use also.
For Example:
Lighting
Change your light bulbs into a compact fluorescent lamp (CFLs) to save light and energy. CFLs produce less heat, uses less energy, and last longer.
Heating
For heating units, replace them if they have been in use for more than ten years already, for safety and energy-saving purposes. Change oil furnace into condensing furnace and go for condensing boiler system instead of baseboard, boiler, and radiator for warm water heating. Condensing furnace converts as much energy into heat, and it also recycles the moisture and gases that drain to the outdoors where they should evaporate and only be a waste. Condensing boilers, on the other hand, operate efficiently by condensing water vapour in exhaust gases and recovering its heat.
Cooling
For a more efficient air-condition system, use a fan in the attic and change the air filter regularly for its optimal performance.
Don't Forget Landscaping
Trees can protect your house from direct sunlight and it can provide cooling during hot days. The green surrounding can also add a relaxing ambiance to your home. To cut on the electric bill, you can stay outside under the shades of trees during summer instead of staying inside your air conditioned house.
And Finally.. Solar Energy
Using solar panels to produce electricity for a household is becoming more popular now. Solar panels generate electricity efficiently and naturally, so you can consider installing them in your rooftops. It might cost much, but it will serve as an investment, taking into consideration that solar panels are nature-friendly, cost-efficient, and low maintenance.
Australian's Households are Choosing to go Solar
The cost of living is continuously rising in Australia, and homeowners are finding ways of making their homes energy-saving and eventually limiting their energy expenses.
Australian households, for one, are finding ways how to reduce their expenditures. Using solar and battery solutions are some of these ways how they are doing it. From recent data, 90% of Aussies believe that indeed, the cost of living has increased for the past five years, and 83% of them also think that it is the power and gas expenses where there is a noticeable rise in costs.
According to the Renewable Energy index as of May 2019, 25,000 solar systems were installed in Australia. Currently, Australia leads the world in the highest use of solar power, wherein 20% of Aussie households are using rooftop solar panels. By September 2019, a total of 2.21M rooftop solar power have been installed across Australia.
When it comes to using battery storage, Australians have been less aggressive, posting only 1% of houses using solar power together with battery storage. But with the development of battery solution, this may encourage Aussies to include using battery on top of the solar energy.
We can expect by 2025 a 15% increase in Australian households installing battery storages because of the possible price reduction for the coming years and their consideration of limiting expenses due to the continuous rise of electric rates.
Our aim at Solar Shop Online is to bring you a complete solar system solution to help you make your home more energy-efficient. We provide our customers with solar products every month, and offer solar installation and servicing. For more information about our products and services, please visit our website at www.solarshoponline.com.au, or call us today at 1300-620-290. We look forward to providing you with our best service!