Cutting Costs: 4 Tips for Making Your Home More Green to Lower Bills

Energy bills have long been one of the largest components of a family budget. In a time when families are looking to cut costs by any means, going green and reducing energy usage makes more financial sense than ever before. So, what are four ways that your family can make your home more green to lower your energy bills?

• Install A Smart Thermostat
• Have A Home Solar System Installed
• Invest In Energy Efficient Appliances
• Select Your Roofing Materials Carefully

Install A Smart Thermostat 

A smart thermostat lowers your energy bills by eliminating the need to keep your cooling or heating system on all day. This way, when you are away from your home at work or on an extended vacation, the system knows not to use power to heat or cool your home. This is different from more traditional methods of cooling and heating which involve keeping the system on around the clock regardless if the home is occupied or not. A smart thermostat can be programmed to turn off after you leave for work and turn back on prior to your return home so that it is already at a comfortable level.

Have A Home Solar System Installed 

A home solar system is a great way to produce your own energy as opposed to relying on the grid for your supply. The sun shines down on the panels, electricity is produced, and then it travels through wiring that your home can use. Every kilowatt-hour generated by the home solar system is no longer purchased from your local utility. A simple way to find out your payback period is to divide the cost of your solar system by your estimated annual savings.

Invest In Energy Efficient Appliances 

Appliances use a great deal of power in order to perform tasks for us that make our lives easier. By investing in energy efficient appliances, they are able to perform the same exact task without having to use as much power. This can drastically lower your energy bills and allow you to love a more sustainable lifestyle.

Select Your Roofing Materials Carefully 

A lesser known way to green your home and save on energy bills is to select your roofing material to match your environment. If you live in a very hot environment, select a white roofing material. This way, the sun’s rays are reflected instead of absorbed. The opposite is true if you live in a very cold environment where a darker roof would absorb all heat from the sun. These respective roof colors allow you to reduce your need for heating and cooling usage and thus lower your energy bills.

Becoming a green household doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. In fact, in many cases, going green makes financial sense. By implementing a smart thermostat, solar system, energy efficient appliances or green roofing materials, you can expect to see lower bills almost immediately.