Three Ways to Make Your New Home Energy Efficient

​ Buying a home is one of the many elements of achieving the quintessential American Dream. Owning a home give one a sense of liberation and the feeling that they can own something that is truly theirs. However, one also has the tendency to focus on more materialistic aspects when first buying. Some of those questions are “Does this house have a pool” or “How many cars can fit into the garage”? Instead, one should be first asking if the house is energy efficient and is environmentally friendly.

In this article, I have listed three ways to make one’s new home more energy efficient.

           

 Perform an Energy Audit
           
By performing an energy audit, one will be able to know the current energy output of their respective home and find manners to improve. In addition, it is also crucial that you find an energy auditor that you trust and that knows the respective area  where one bought their home. Some of the questions that one should take into consideration  are if the person has any unique skills and certifications. Also, do not forget to ask the methodology of the audit. 
​             Apart from the audit itself, it is important that one does not get scammed by auditors. According to a statical analysis done by Home Advisor, the average cost for an audit is $671 in New York State. Depending on where one lives also heavily correlates to the cost of an energy audit. It ranges from $240 to $1852. If  one prefers to do the audit oneself, that is fine too. However, be sure that one is confident and has the respective knowledge to perform the tasks associated with an energy audit.     
             New York State offers a free energy audit, click the links below to find out more information about how you can receive this benefit.
https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/All-Programs/Programs/Home-Performance-With-ENERGY-STAR
https://nyserda.energysavvy.com/start-your-project/hpwes-express-audit/?s=contact


Reduce Food Waste
            Another manner to make one’s new home more energy efficient is to reduce one’s food waste. According to statistics done by theSwag USA, more than 20 lbs of food is wasted per person per month in the United States. In addition, the average American household throws away over $2,200 of food each year. By buying only what one needs and can afford will help reduce energy output and will put money back in one’s pocket. One could spend that on a trip that one has always dreamed of or could add it towards paying one’s mortgage payment. On a community service level, reducing food waste allows those who have food insecurity to have enough food to eat.
            Most recently, it has been discovered that food waste can actually be used to for fuel. The use of food waste for fuels allows one to see that the United States is starting to enter a post fossil fuel era.
 
Use L.E.D Lightbulbs
            One has probably heard and been taught that buying L.E.D(Light Emitting Diode) lightbulbs is one of the most basic actions to make one’s new home more energy efficient. However, did you know that L.E.D light bulbs also provide some huge savings too? L.E.D lightbulbs use 75% less energy and last 25 times longer…By 2027, the use of L.E.D lightbulbs could save $30 billion dollars in energy costs, according to Energy.Gov. The use of L.E.D also greatly benefits the homeowner in the long run. The Simple Dollar provides one with a cost analysis with the difference between a household using incandescent and an L.E.D bulb. According to their findings, they found over 23 years that one saves over $150 dollars by using L.E.D bulbs. By getting one’s new home started on the right foot, one will be a more financially-aware and happier homeowner.
            Performing an energy audit, Reducing food waste, and using L.E.D lightbulbs are just some of the many ways that one can do to make their new home more energy efficient. By first asking “Is the house energy efficient and environmentally friendly” shows that one is both socially-conscious and more financially-aware of their respective energy outputs. If one adopts small steps today to make their new home more energy efficient, it will produce great results long term. 

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