Remodel to Increase Home Efficiency

If your home is 10 to 15 years old or older, the home construction codes on insulation requirements have changed, and it’s highly likely that your home’s energy efficiency is not up to date. Recent conversations and trends in construction and remodeling have been developing new ways to conserve energy. Maybe you’ve been reducing water usage and conserving light usage, which is admirable - there are many ways to help save a little bit of extra energy here and there. However, have you ever wondered if there are more things that you could do?

If you have ever opened an alarmingly high energy bill, you might be wondering about the different ways to increase home efficiency. Your home’s window efficiencies, insulation requirements, and HVAC system is likely a lower seer rating than what is currently required by current construction standards, and it’s also likely that your old plumbing fixtures are using too much hot water and could be replaced by newer ones that allow an EPA-regulated amount of water flow.

There are many more ways to increase home efficiency that can help reduce those energy bills and become more environmentally conscious. Read on to learn more.

One of the biggest home energy wasters are our windows. Did you know that, compared to most windows installed prior to 2006, the minimum code requirements today are much higher as newer windows are designer to keep our more ultraviolet light and contain more of the interior temperature.

By sealing any cracks or openings in your windows, or replacing single pane windows with dual pane windows, you can prevent this type of leak and enjoy a naturally comfortable home. We also offer higher-efficiency windows such as triple pane glass and Low-Emittance or Low-E glass, which contains a special coating that makes a window more thermally efficient.

Another one of the ways to increase home efficiency is by checking your lightbulbs and light fixtures. Halogen bulbs, compact fluorescent lamps (also known as CFLs), and light-emitting diode bulbs (LED bulbs) are long-lasting, energy-efficient options when it comes to home lighting.

Older light fixtures may not be properly grounded and could also be a source of energy loss, and don’t forget to insulate recessed lighting to prevent unwanted air gaps - another common source of energy egress!

Adding insulation to your home with mineral wool, spray foam, or recycled materials like traditional fiberglass and cellulose can certainly add to the energy efficiency of your home. According to the EPA, you can save up to 15 percent on heating and cooling costs by adding insulation to the little nooks and crannies that often go unlooked in a house. These include attics, crawl spaces, and basement rim joints. These spaces may be small, but they are mighty in terms of the many ways to increase home efficiency. Spray insulation has a high R-value and expands to seal gaps traditional insulation can’t fill completely. Spray foam insulation has an option of open cell which is a R3.7 per inch of foam and closed cell which is a R6.2 per inch usually recommended for spaces where less foam is applied.

The best way to keep your HVAC system running smoothly is by regularly changing your air filters - once a month please - but everything needs a tune-up every once in a while, including your HVAC system. In fact, doing so is another one of the ways to increase home efficiency! A yearly check-up will ensure that your furnace and air conditioning system works efficiently. If it’s working at half mass, your home might feel too hot or too cold even though the cool air or heat is coming through the vents.

Consider upgrading your thermostat to a smart system or a programmable thermostat so that you can control it on the go and increase the efficiency of your home’s heating and cooling usage at the touch of a button.

If you have to wait and wait for your hot water to get hot, perhaps it’s time to replace your plumbing fixtures for high efficiency models that lower the number of gallons per minute released. You can also further your home’s efficiency by insulating your pipes or look into installing a solar water heater or a high-efficiency or tankless model that heats water quickly and saves you from pouring money down the drain.

To learn more about the many ways to increase home efficiency or to look into an energy-efficient remodel, be sure to contact or visit us today at Anderson & Rodgers Construction. We are located in Lexington, Kentucky, and Cincinnati, Ohio. We also proudly serve the greater Lexington, Cincinnati, and North/Central Kentucky areas, including Versailles, Georgetown, Richmond, Winchester, Kentucky.