How to Reduce Your Household Energy Costs

With the rising costs of everything this year, it's nice to save money, specifically when it comes to your utility bills. Electricity, heating, air-conditioning, and water are all necessary services, but they can add a pretty penny to your household costs.

In light of this, there are many ways to help reduce your household energy costs that can make your home more energy-efficient. We understand that some aspects of your home can be expensive and hard to repair right away, so we have also provided budget-friendly and easy-to-do options to save you money in the long run.

The significant exterior areas of concern regarding energy efficiency are your windows, doors, roof, and walls. These three areas tend to be more costly and can take longer to tackle. 

Windows

Do you notice drafts coming from your windows? Do you see your curtains or blinds slightly moving? That means your heating and cooling are escaping from your home through the windows. If you haven't replaced your windows or can't remember the last time they were replaced, it's time to start thinking about it. New windows can help keep cooling and heating costs down because in the winter and summer, if the air is escaping, it makes your heating/cooling system work overtime, costing you money.

Learn more about replacing your windows by reading "Is It Time To Start Replacing your Windows?" or "Have Your Window Seals Failed?" blogs.

Doors

Doors have the same problem as windows: drafts. If your doors that lead outside also have drafts, check for areas that aren't tightly against the frame. You can replace all doors with energy-efficient doors, or you could install weather-stripping for the time being. Along with new windows, doors can be expensive as well.

Roofing

The material on your roof can play a part in your heating and cooling costs. Aluminum roofing, such as the Bayview Roofing Collection, helps regulate the temperature in the colder months and dissipates heat throughout the warmer months. Asphalt roofing absorbs the heat throughout the summer, and when the temperatures reach 35°C (95°F) and higher, darker coloured shingles can feel like they are 65°C (150°F). That added heat to your home makes your cooling system work harder to regulate the temperature.

Want to learn more about the Bayview Roofing Collection? Click here or read our "Choose The Bayview Roofing Collection for Your Next Roofing Solution" blog.

If you're going to look at your roof, it's always best to check your attic. With proper insulation, your attic helps control temperature all year round. Did you know that roughly 60% of your heat loss in the winter is due to inadequate attic insulation? The proper amount of insulation will keep warm air inside your home and cold air outside during the winter. 

Did you also know that soffit and gable vents in your attic help circulate the hot air throughout the summer to cool your attic off? Check that insulation or other debris isn't clogging your soffit or gable vents to receive optimal circulation.

Exterior walls

Your home exterior siding acts as another layer of insulation and protection year-round. If your siding is damaged or pulled off the wall, it can allow cold air to enter a home through the wall studs during the winter. This process is known as thermal bridging. It can depend on the type of siding installed and how much insulation you have inside your exterior walls. 

Read our "5 Things to Consider When Choosing Siding for Your Home" blog.

Areas on the interior of the home that could be changed are:

  • Replace all lightbulbs with fluorescent and LED as they use less electricity and last 20 times longer.
  • If you're looking for new appliances, choose ENERGY STAR® options.
  • Install low-flow water features to save on your next water bill. These could be your old toilet, sink faucets, and shower faucet.
  • Invest in new heating units. Although this could be on the pricey side of things, your older furnace or older baseboards (electric heating) are costing you lots of money compared to newer makes and models. Same with your water heater. 

Some other quick tips and tricks are:

  • Switching the direction of your fans during the summer and winter months. Winter = Clockwise and Summer = Counterclockwise
  • Use thermal curtains to help keep warm air inside your home during winter. They will also help keep your home dark and cooler in the summer.
  • Only turn your washing machine on when you have a full load of laundry.
  • Replace air filters to improve the efficiency of your furnace, air conditioner, dehumidifier, or anything else with a filter.