These 5 Energy Efficient Electrical Upgrades Will Make Your Home Green…and Save You Money (sweet!)
Whether It’s About Your Wallet, The Environment, Or Both, There Are Plenty of Electrical Upgrades That Can Green Your Home.
The Cost Of Electricity Keeps Going Up, But That Doesn’t Mean Our Carbon Footprint Needs To. Now Is The Time To Look At Energy Efficient Electrical Upgrades As A Part Of The Solution.
Living in Alberta means we spend at least half the year keeping warm in our homes.
This means that we generally use more energy to heat our homes and entertain ourselves. It’s just a fact of life in this beautiful province, nothing to feel bad about.
But it also means the cost to our bank accounts and our environment goes up. So, how can we lessen the impact on both?
One of the answers is by increasing our energy efficiency through electrical upgrades.
And, installed one at a time or all together, these devices will save you money and reduce your environmental impact.
“What are Exquisite’s top 5 upgrades to make my home more energy efficient?”
There are lots of basic lifestyle changes you can make to increase your energy efficiency:
- turning lights off when you leave the room
- wearing warmer clothes indoors rather than cranking the heat
- checking the weather stripping on doors and windows, etc.
These are all commonplace and easy to do.
But if you want to go further and save more energy and money over the lifetime of your home, energy efficient electric upgrades are a must.
So, let’s explore our top 5 most affordable green-home upgrades.
1. Install LED Lighting
LED lighting is energy-efficient, long-lasting, and lowers energy costs for people and businesses.
- LED lighting uses anywhere from 60-75% less energy than standard incandescent lighting.
- The average LED lighting lasts anywhere from 10,000 to 100,000 hours, depending on use.
- Depending on how many lights you replace with LED, all the above can result in dramatic decreases in your energy costs.
2. Upgrade to Dimmer Switches
Dimmer switches work by reducing the voltage to your lighting.
And when you have total control over the amount of energy each light uses, you have complete control over the environmental and financial impacts of your home or business lighting.
Also, by using a slide dimmer/switch combo, you can set the desired level of light and leave it.
3. Get Occupancy Sensors
Occupancy sensors do exactly what you think they do: sense when someone is in a room.
And when you connect occupancy sensors to your smart lighting, you’ll never have to worry about leaving unneeded lights on again.
This means less electrical waste, lower bills, and no more frustration when the kids leave the lights on…seriously, how many times do we have to say “turn the lights off…”
4. Invest in a Smart Thermostat
Smart thermostats give you the power to not only set it and forget it, but also learn from your usage and create a heating schedule that matches your needs.
Higher during the day, then automatically lowered at bedtime…Adjusting the temperature from your phone… Smart Thermostats are easy to use and energy-efficient.
They can also provide data about your usage and help you make better decisions about when to put on an extra layer instead of cranking the heat.
Plus, smart thermostats and a forced-air heating system, it’s also possible to create zoned temperature control. For example, do you spend all day working in the home office? With zoned control, you can exclusively heat the office instead of your whole house.
5. Put in Bathroom Fan Timers
Bathroom fans are essential. Not only for the four hours after mom’s spicy black bean chili (sorry, I couldn’t help myself) but also for removing moisture after a hot shower (back on track).
Moisture can build up in the porous materials in your bathroom, leading to mold, rot, and even illness.
To prevent the above, it’s important to run your bathroom fan for at least 20mins after a shower.
While bathroom fans are relatively efficient, forgetting to turn them off leads to unnecessary energy use and cost.
By installing a timer, you can set the fan, leave it, and not worry about it running all day long.
Bonus Upgrade Tip: Automate Your Home.
The common theme that runs through and supports energy efficient and convenient homes is automation.
Smart homes are becoming the norm. And with control from your smartphone, it’s a natural and easy next step in embracing green technologies.
The bottom line is this: by automating your home with smart systems, you can maximize your control over your energy uses, and thereby, the cost of your utilities and your environmental impact.
Are You Interested in Home Automation? Check Out Our Home Automation Page AND Get in Touch Today!
Other Things to Consider
All of our little actions add up when it comes to energy efficiency.
Turning lights off, wearing a sweater rather than turning up the heat, checking weather stripping around doors, limiting device use…these are all important.
Because while we may not have control over the price and kind of energy we use, we can choose how we conserve.
To us, the motivation to be energy efficient doesn’t really matter.
If you’re most interested in saving money in a more and more expensive energy market, do it. If you’re more concerned about your personal carbon footprint, rock on.
Both? Score.
Whatever your priority, by taking little steps and upgrading your home electrical you will get the results you want for our earth and your wallet.
We install all of the electrical upgrades mentioned in this post, including whole-home automation systems. So whatever you need, or even if you’re looking for individualized recommendations, get in touch. We’re happy to be, At Your Service!
With over 30-combined years of expertise in both home & residential AND business & commercial electrical service… we’re At Your Service!
Contact us with all of your home and business electrical questions. Because we’re YOUR local Red Seal, Master Electricians, and are always At Your Service!
24/7 emergency, lighting, Renos, upgrades, automation…whatever your electrical needs, get in touch today!
We’re proud to serve you as your preferred electricians, Calgary, Okotoks, and the Foothills area.
For all of your home and business electrical needs, we’re here for you.
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