Whether you planted a tree, took reusable bags to the grocery store, or rode your bike, we hope you found a way to celebrate Earth Day on April 22. And if you didn’t, we’ve got your back! Here at LEAP, we believe Earth Day is every day, and reducing your energy use at home is a great place to start. We’ve asked our experts to give a couple of their best tips for keeping your home energy efficient all year long.
- Insulation is a key piece to any efficient living space, primarily in the attic and crawlspace, but usually calls for a professional. Every little bit helps, though, and some spots in your home are easy to take care of yourself without specialized equipment. If you can do no other insulation, insulate and weatherstrip your attic access hatch.
- Most attic access hatches are just ½” (or less!) of plywood or drywall separating the inside of the home from outside weather conditions, and can heat up to 100+ degrees in the summer. Glue rigid foam board to the hatch and add a bit of inexpensive foam weatherstripping to the perimeter of the inside face (so that it compresses against the trim) to help reinforce that thermal barrier.
- Most attic access hatches are just ½” (or less!) of plywood or drywall separating the inside of the home from outside weather conditions, and can heat up to 100+ degrees in the summer. Glue rigid foam board to the hatch and add a bit of inexpensive foam weatherstripping to the perimeter of the inside face (so that it compresses against the trim) to help reinforce that thermal barrier.
- Resolve to cut your water use. The EPA estimates 3 to 4 percent of national electricity consumption, equivalent to approximately 56 billion kilowatts (kW), or $4 billion, is used in providing drinking water and wastewater services each year. Saving water saves energy and money. Taking shorter showers and turning off the faucet after getting your toothbrush wet are classic bits of advice and great behavioral changes to make. Installing faucet aerators and low-flow shower heads and eliminating toilet and faucet leaks can save thousands more gallons a year.
- Use the most efficient light bulbs. This one really is as easy as changing a light bulb. Incandescent bulbs are being phased out in the U.S., but there’s no reason to wait for your incandescents to burn out – unless you want to continue to waste energy and money. LED bulbs use up to 80% less energy than incandescents and last an average of 20x longer. Additionally, the cost of LEDs has come down and the quality has gone up, with ‘warm white’ and ‘soft white’ varieties, in the last few years.
- Go Solar! The ultimate way to celebrate Earth Day every day is to go solar, and with our Solarize programs in full swing, it’s easier and more affordable to make the switch to rooftop solar panels. Take advantage of exclusive discounted rates, vetted contractors, and an expert-facilitated process to start reducing your carbon footprint.
Making your home more energy efficient can be affordable and easy, especially with the help of your local home energy experts! Scheduling your home energy check-up with LEAP is a great first step to exploring your options.
