Enjoy Magazine - January 2019 January 2019 Issue | Page 9

4 MUSTS
FOR ANY HOME
ENERGY CHECKUP
Contributed by Matt Barbato
B A S E D O N T I P S F R O M T Y P E N N I N G TO N D E S I G N T E A M
Need a good New Year’s Resolution? Saving money on your energy bill could be a great
one. The start of the new year marks the perfect opportunity to do a home energy checkup.
While you could hire a professional to assess the energy efficiency of your home, you can
also do it on your own. Here are some must-do tasks for a home energy checkup:
FIND AND SEAL ANY AIR LEAKS
Are you noticing an uncomfortable draft
in a room? That’s probably because of an
air leak. Take some time to search your
home for any leaks. You’ll be glad you
did. You could save anywhere from 10
to 20 percent on your annual energy bill
just by eliminating drafts in your home.
These cracks can be found inside or
outside of your house. On the inside,
look for gaps along the baseboard
or edge of the flooring, as well as the
junctures of the walls and ceilings. Take a
close look at the exterior of the property
to find any potential leaks where two
different materials meet. This is a likely
source for any costly cracks outside
of the home. Don’t forget to check
windows, doors, lighting and plumbing
fixtures, switches and electrical outlets.
Caulk any holes for faucets, pipes,
electrical outlets and wiring and seal any
leaks along the foundation and siding
with the necessary material.
Also, be sure to check your insulation
to make sure it is at the recommended
level. You’ll soon enjoy a warmer and
more cost-effective home.
INSPECT HEATING AND
COOLING EQUIPMENT
It’s very important to check your heating
and cooling equipment on an annual
basis to ensure it’s performing at an
optimal level. For forced-air furnaces,
you should replace your filters on a
monthly basis, especially during high
usage periods.
Consider replacing your entire system if
it’s more than 15 years old. A new unit
could make an enormous impact on
your energy consumption and reduce
your energy bill significantly.
REPLACE ANY WASTEFUL
APPLIANCES OR ELECTRONICS
Outdated or inefficient appliances could
raise your energy consumption. Start
by looking at your light bulbs. Consider
replacing any bad bulbs with energy-
saving alternatives, such as CFLs or LEDs.
Don’t waste money on bulbs that are
overly bright and perhaps install sensors,
dimmers and timers to cut back on
usage.
Evaluate your appliances and determine
whether there is a more cost-effective
option out there. Unplug items such
as chargers when they aren’t in use
or change the settings to reduce its
consumption.
MAKE A LIST
Once you’ve determined what’s working
and what’s not, create a checklist that
will help you properly execute any home
energy improvements. Jot down where
you’re wasting the most energy. Think
about how long you plan to own your
current home and determine whether
the costs of these improvements are
worth the long-term savings. Figure out
if you can do the repair yourself, or if
you need to hire a contractor. Of course,
determine a budget for your money and
time so you can get the job done right.