More and more people today are turning to energy-efficient technology for their homes for several reasons, and you might be wondering what it is about these expensive machines that make them more in demand than the regular, trusty ones you might have been using in your home for years.
Well, if you’re curious you’ve come to the right place. From a better quality of life to healthier homes that last longer, get ready to learn about all the reasons you should make your home as energy efficient as possible!
1. Save Money on Bills
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This is one of the biggest reasons anyone has to make their home energy efficient – it saves big on your utility bills. Things like renewable energy or even a better washing machine that uses less water and electricity can help bring your utility bills down by hundreds of dollars.
Think about solar power, for instance. You can use the energy to get warm water as well as electricity, and on a day-to-day basis, you’re paying next to nothing for it. There are air conditioners and other appliances that save you so much money that they essentially pay for themselves in under a year.
These things come with a big upfront cost though, and if you can’t afford that you can start small. You can, for example, change all the lights in your home with more energy-efficient ones.
2. Tax Credits
A lot of the energy-efficient fixtures you might be hesitating to get come with tax credits – so do they really cost you as much as you think or are they helping put some money back in your pocket from the taxes you already owe anyway?
For example, if you install a solar energy system in your home you can claim a 26% tax credit on it under the federal solar tax credit program. You can also claim similar tax credits on water heaters, heat pumps, and many other installations.
3. Increase Comfort
If your home doesn’t have the proper insulation, your heating, and cooling systems are working extra to keep your home at your desired temperature – and it still might not be enough!
With the help of some great insulation and a programmable thermostat, not only will you save big on heating and cooling costs but you’ll also be able to live in a home that’s more comfortable than it was before.
You can even improve the air quality in your home with the help of the latest heating and cooling systems. They’re designed to supply your home with fresh, filtered air.
This is to say that the latest energy-efficient systems don’t conserve energy at the expense of performance or quality – in fact, they work better than the older models of these same systems!
If you want to keep the air inside your home feeling fresh, you can even get some indoor plants that will help. There are plants like the snake plant that require very little maintenance, and then there are plants like the peace lily that might be a bit more work, but that does an even better job at keeping the air fresh. Here is a list of indoor plants that you can put in your living room if you’re interested!
4. Increase Property Value
Energy-efficient homes are much more in demand in the housing market, and your home might be valued more than other similar properties if you have great insulation, solar energy, or any other feature that will in turn mean lower energy bills and less energy used in general.
USA Today reports that energy-efficient homes sell at over $5,000 more than a similar home that doesn’t have the right certifications, and it can cost an average of $2,500 to make. This investment, however, is usually either returned to you when tax season rolls around or in the form of savings on utility bills.
5. Protect the Environment
Solar energy is one of the most environmentally friendly ways to produce electricity, not to mention how using technology that will use less energy made by fossil fuels is a great thing to do for the environment.
For anyone who wants to do more to conserve our natural resources, taking steps to make sure less energy is used in their homes is the perfect way to start.
