How Can A House Renovation Reduce My Utility Costs?

The average cost of utilities have been rising every year for the longest time, and it’s something that doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon. It’s also something that’s causing a lot of homeowners to think of methods that can help make their homes more energy efficient. When you decide to take on a house renovation project of any kind, there are all sorts of things that you can do in order to change the amount of energy that’s needed to help power your home, such as the following:

Replace Your Old HVAC Equipment

The reason this kind of equipment may be operating more than it should be isn’t because your home may not be properly insulated as it should be, but because the heating and cooling equipment inside your home itself is always attempting to supply the proper temperature control that’s required in order to keep your home heated and cooled. In the event that your equipment isn’t old and still runs pretty well, it’s a good idea to wait to upgrade it; however, take the time to see if there are any dirty filters that may need to be replaced or ductwork that may need to be either replaced or resealed.

Ensure That the Building Envelope is Sealed

This is something else that can help to greatly reduce your overall heating and air costs. This is a process in which you will essentially be eliminating areas in which air freely flows in and out of your home. These areas include gaps around your windows and other drafty areas. On the other hand, there are those who fear sealing their home too tightly due to indoor air quality; however, this is something that really doesn’t have to be an issue as long as you install mechanical ventilation to your HVAC system.

Improve Your Insulation

Heating your home is something that can cost a lot of money during the winter season; however, as long as your home is insulated well, your heating system never has to run frequently or work hard in order for your home to remain heated. When you take on a house renovation project, you can either change the existing insulation or add on to what’s already there. Nowadays, many homeowners have opted to install foam insulation, which essentially acts as an air barrier.

Update All of Your Appliances

You will also be able to cut your overall utility costs by upgrading your current appliances to ones that don’t require as much energy to operate. These appliances can include the following:

• Washer
• Dryer
• Dishwasher
• Refrigerator

Obviously, appliances like these can cost a large amount of money, and it may be a while before you have the funds to be able to purchase them for your surrey custom home renovation. In the meantime, it may be a good idea to wait to replace your appliances until they absolutely need to be repaired or if it is clear that one or more of them are beginning to run in a manner that isn’t very efficient whatsoever.