Making Your Old House Green

If you are like me, you have been looking for ways to reduce your utilities costs without compromising your quality of life. I decided the best way to save money on my energy bills was to turn my old house into an updated houses with green appliances. Whether you are trying to save money on electric costs or you are trying to reduce your carbon footprint, there are a number of different ways that you can “go green” in the home. Here are some tips on what you can do to increase the value of your home while you reduce your consumption.

Replace That Old Refrigerator

One of the first things I did was throw away my old refrigerator that looked like it came straight from a movie from the 80′s. Not only was the refrigerator hideous, I could also hear is sucking up electricity during all hours of the day and night. When you are buying a new refrigerator, you need to make sure that you take time do your research. I chose an ENERGY STAR qualified unit that was rated as 20 percent more efficient than non-compliant models. Not only are my bills lower, now my food stays fresher for longer.

Invest in an Efficient Cooking Appliance

If you search the market, you are not going to find an efficient cooktop that you can have installed in your home. I was searching for a more efficient way to cook my hot meals without heating up my entire home. I found the most practical solution when I discovered a wide range of efficient convection ovens. These advanced appliances can bake, microwave, broil, and heat your food, all while saving you money.

Get a Programmable Thermostat

Now, you can venture outside of your kitchen and save even more money. If you have a heating and air system, you should consider installing a programmable thermostat in your home to save on your heating and cooling costs. When you have these applications, you can program your home’s temperature and avoid running your heat and air conditioning when no one is home. I decided that there is no point in keeping my home cool or warm when no one is able to enjoy the comfortable temperatures.

Update Your Lighting Fixtures

Did you know that old lighting systems can increase your electric bills by as much as 25 percent. If you have the old incandescent lights in your home, it might be time to make the investment to update your lighting fixtures. You cannot just cut out all of the lights during the dark hours to make your home a more green place to live. With CFL and LED lights, you can keep the lights on while you still take advantage of the savings.

Your old home does not have to hog electricity if you do not let it. All it takes is some basic information, an investment, and an experience electrician to turn your energy-wasting home into a home that is green and efficient. Price the cost of appliance models, price the cost of services, and be proactive about making your home a green place to live and a cheaper place to maintain.

J Five Farmers Branch electricians know the benefits of enabling your home to be energy efficient. Let JFive electricians be your partner in all electrical updates.