Best Home Energy Efficiency Improvements

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Jefren Olson’s home in Madison, Wis., before the energy upgrades.
Jefren Olson’s home in Madison, Wis., before the energy upgrades.
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Energy upgrades to Jefren Olson’s home in Madison, Wis., have made it much more efficient to heat and cool. Some of his recent home improvements include adding insulation and replacing the windows.
Energy upgrades to Jefren Olson’s home in Madison, Wis., have made it much more efficient to heat and cool. Some of his recent home improvements include adding insulation and replacing the windows.
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Adding insulation is a great way to make a home more energy efficient. If you’re not sure where or whether your home needs more insulation, a home energy audit can help you figure that out.
Adding insulation is a great way to make a home more energy efficient. If you’re not sure where or whether your home needs more insulation, a home energy audit can help you figure that out.
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Jefren Olson’s home in Madison, Wis., in the process of getting new insulation.
Jefren Olson’s home in Madison, Wis., in the process of getting new insulation.
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This is an infrared photo from an energy audit — the red areas show where the most heat is escaping.
This is an infrared photo from an energy audit — the red areas show where the most heat is escaping.
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Changing your light bulbs is one of the easiest things you can do to save electricity. Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) use far less electricity than the older incandescent bulbs, and they come in a wide variety of styles. If you search, you can find CFLs for almost any type of light fixture.
Changing your light bulbs is one of the easiest things you can do to save electricity. Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) use far less electricity than the older incandescent bulbs, and they come in a wide variety of styles. If you search, you can find CFLs for almost any type of light fixture.
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A home wind turbine is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint, but will it save you money? You’ll need to do some research to find out. The answer depends on a number of factors specific to your situation, including how much wind your site can produce, how much you pay for electricity and the tax credits and rebates available where you live.
A home wind turbine is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint, but will it save you money? You’ll need to do some research to find out. The answer depends on a number of factors specific to your situation, including how much wind your site can produce, how much you pay for electricity and the tax credits and rebates available where you live.
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In general, home energy efficiency improvements involve spending money now to save on your energy bills later. For big-ticket items, you really can save big, but you’ll want to calculate payback periods carefully.
In general, home energy efficiency improvements involve spending money now to save on your energy bills later. For big-ticket items, you really can save big, but you’ll want to calculate payback periods carefully.
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Solar-electric panels and solar water heating systems are other items that make great environmental sense and may lead to big cash savings, depending on the specifics of your situation.
Solar-electric panels and solar water heating systems are other items that make great environmental sense and may lead to big cash savings, depending on the specifics of your situation.
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Don’t overlook the simple things you can do to make your home more energy efficient. Some of the best green home improvements will cost you little or nothing!
Don’t overlook the simple things you can do to make your home more energy efficient. Some of the best green home improvements will cost you little or nothing!

Have you thought about making energy retrofits to your home? It’s a great way to make your home more energy efficient and reduce your carbon footprint. Home energy efficiency improvements are good for your bank account, too, because money you invest in energy efficiency or renewable energy systems will pay off over time in reduced energy bills. That’s especially true right now, because the federal government currently offers big financial incentives for purchasing solar panels, wind turbines, efficient windows, added insulation, woodstoves and more. It’s also possible to finance home energy upgrades with a loan specifically designed for energy conservation. These loans are usually called energy improvement mortgages (see “Resources,” below). However, it’s not always easy to determine what energy improvements you need. Which projects make the most sense for your home? Which are really worth the money? And if you can’t do all of them, where should you start?

Imagine You Had a Little Extra Dough …

Each home is different, and how much you could benefit from a particular project depends on many variables, including the age and design of your home, your financial situation, and your personal priorities. To help focus on what you really need and want, consider this hypothetical scenario: You have been given $5,000 to spend on home energy improvements. What would you do with the money?

Some of the projects that may come to mind first, such as solar-electric (photovoltaic) panels and wind power systems, are outside that budget. For example, if you were to purchase a residential wind turbine, you could expect to spend at least $10,000 and easily as much as $50,000. Solar panels usually fall into a similar price range. Energy-efficient windows come with a big price tag, too. They can cost between $200 to $800 per window. Add the cost of installation, and depending on the size of your home and the number of windows, you could easily spend $10,000 or more.

Can you make significant energy improvements to your home on a more modest budget? Absolutely! You could add insulation, buy a new, high-efficiency furnace, or purchase a new energy-efficient refrigerator. The big question is how to decide which of these energy improvements will provide the biggest benefits for you.

  • Published on Jul 14, 2010
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