When it comes to energy efficiency, there are a number of ‘quick wins’ and behavioral changes that can help you reduce the amount of energy you use in the home. But there are also a number of ways to invest in the longer-term energy efficiency of your house. While the upfront costs can be considerable, these costs will be recovered in the longer term due to the reduced energy bills.
Solar panels
Installing solar panels in your home and using solar energy does require some upfront costs, but once installed are easy to maintain and will likely last your home 20 years or more. Not only is solar energy free to use and clean, you can often also opt for any excess solar energy that you produce to be sold back into the power grid. There are a number of solar systems to choose from, so make sure you do your research so that you get the best deal.
Rainwater tank
Installing a rainwater tank is a smart way of using one of the natural resources, and reducing the need to buy the water your home needs to run on. There are a number of rainwater collection devices available – whether it is a tank or a water bladder. While you can’t use rainwater for all of your household needs, it can be used to water your garden, and can be connected to the house to be used to wash clothes and flush toilets. As with solar panels, installing a water tank and rain collection system can be expensive, but these costs will be recovered.
Energy efficient appliances
When it comes to buying appliances for your home, it can be tempting to go for the most inexpensive option. But often, this is counter intuitive, because often the more expensive appliances will be more energy and cost efficient in the long run. Make sure when choosing your home appliances – from the oven to the washing machine – you make sense of the energy star rating and ask for advice on which appliance will have the most efficient running costs.
Building a new home
When building or renovating your home, it’s a great time to invest in its energy efficiency. From proper insulation to choosing the correct aspect and window placement, incorporating energy efficient design and building solutions into your home will reduce the long-term energy costs. Even the placement of trees and plants outside your home can have an impact on your.
Making your home energy efficient does require some initial costs, but once invested in will reduce your energy use and bills over a longer period of time.
David from AP&G is an expert in energy efficiency, and helps consumers understand and adopt energy efficient practices year round
It seems too advanced and very broad for me to understand.