High energy prices have been on the rise in the United States. There
are ways that you can make your home hot weather ready while keeping
cool in the summer.
The first thing you may want to do is get an energy audit to see how
energy efficient your home really is. An energy auditor will come to
the home and check all major appliances, heating and cooling
systems, as well as windows, doors and insulation. The entire
structure of the home will be assessed and get an overall rating.
This rating will also come with a report that will give suggestions
on how you can change the home, or make improvements to it so it is
more energy efficient.
There are some things you can check in your home to identify areas
that are in need of improvement. Check your garage walls, basement,
attic and attic stairway to see if there are any major drafts or
areas where the insulation is old or in need of replacement.
Check your central air conditioning system every spring and have it
serviced. This will make sure that it is working properly and
efficiently so that money is not wasted on leaks. You may also want
to clean or replace the filter once every two months and always seal
any leaks or holes around pipes, whether they be plumbing or
heating.
Hire a contractor to seal any leaky ducts so that airflow is
distributed equally and the equipment is operating at peak
efficiency.
Are your windows single or double pane? If they are single pane, you
may want to consider installing double pane windows with high
performance glass. This ensures that there are fewer drafts in the
house.
Consider a programmable thermostat that can regulate the homes
temperature even when you are not home. That way, the air
conditioning will not cool the home when you are not home, or in the
evenings when the air conditioning may not be as necessary.
When you install window coverings, curtains, drapes or blinds, it
helps seal off the windows and doors from both any drafts and the
sun. It can help keep your house cool in the day by protecting the
home from the suns hot rays.
Consider ceiling fans as an alternate source of cooling. These
ceiling fans do not use as much energy as air conditioning and keep
a bedroom very cool.
If you have room around the property of the house, consider planting
a tree. A tree can act as a natural cooling system for a house or
bedroom window so that the sun is not in direct contact with the
home. When the sun is not shining directly on the home, it can
greatly decrease the heat that enters in the house.
If you can not plant a tree to shield the house, you may want to
invest in applying a reflective coating to the roof. This reflective
coating will redirect the suns rays, bouncing the heat off of the
home. A dark roof absorbs a lot of heat, so if you have one,
consider getting a light roof that will also reflect the suns rays.
There are many options for energy-saving appliances. Some of them
can be great investments, but always check the energy claims to see
if it really is saving you energy and if it is something that you
could use in your home.
If you feel that energy conservation in your home is something that
you can achieve, but need help with the investment to make all the
improvements in your home, you may want to check out an
Energy-Efficient Mortgage (EEM). You can get a loan towards the
improvements of your house if the overall savings in the utilities
are greater than the cost of the home improvements. Ask your energy
auditor to help you determine the break even point where your costs
match your savings, and savings will begin to take place. In the
long term, great savings can be reaped by performing these home
improvements.
Energy-Efficient Mortgages are a lot like normal mortgages, except
you use the money for home improvements. Interest rates are usually
low and payments and terms are negotiable. There are many lenders
who offer this mortgage, so ask around or go to your local bank to
see if there is someone who can help you. There are more papers to
fill out and you must get an energy audit before applying for an EEM.
The energy auditor can assist you and the lender in getting
everything ready for the application process of the EEM. It takes
the work off of both you and the lender.
By making home improvements you can save a lot of money on your
utility bills and at the same time conserve energy. Its a win-win
situation for both your pocket book and environment.
About the Author
John R Blakefield is a mortgage and real estate specialist. For more
information, articles, news, tools and valuable resources on home
mortgages or investment loans, refinancing, debt solutions, visit
this site:
http://www.scourtheweb.com/mortgage/.
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