Weekly publication of homes from the Wacotrib. March 2014 | Page 4

4 |new ADDRESS | SUNDAY, JANUARY 5, 2014 | www.wacotrib.com/realestate

Waco Tribune-Herald

Winter renovations to boost home energy efficiency,
add value
(BPT) - It’s that time
of year again, when the
cold wind blows outdoors and your home
works as hard as it can
to keep you warm and
comfortable indoors.
Yet your home may be
working harder than
necessary, while inflating your energy bills in
the process. By making
a few home renovations
this winter, you can
boost energy efficiency,
save money and add
value to your home in
the long run.
Now is a good time to
make energy-efficient
renovations. More
than 90 percent of the
116 million homes in
the United States are
expected to have higher
heating expenditures
this winter compared
with last winter, mainly
due to changes in
energy prices, according to the U.S. Energy
Information Administration (EIA). Heating
and cooling account for
about 54 percent of a
home’s utility bills, ac-

cording to energy.gov.
Because of this, it
makes good sense to
make efficiency improvements now.
Here are some tips for
making your home run

more efficiently this
winter.
Change your furnace

filter. A dirty furnace
filter can restrict airflow
and increase energy use
in your home. Keeping your furnace clean,
updated and properly
adjusted can save about
5 percent on heating

costs. To increase the
efficiency of your furnace, replace or clean

the filters once a month
during the high-use
months.
Upgrade to a more efficient furn