10 Year-Round Tips to Keep Your Home Energy Efficient
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No matter the season, energy efficiency is always in style as homeowners battle rising utility bills. To help control your energy costs throughout the year, try these 10 convenient tips from JELD-WEN that can keep your house cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter:
- Give your home an energy makeover
A survey or audit of your home's energy usage and costs can identify specific ways you can reduce your home energy bills. Visit www.energystar.gov for more details. - Low-E glass is a must
With two transparent, microscopic layers of silver coating, Low-E glass works by reflecting heat outside in warm weather and holding heat indoors during colder months. Low-E glass is standard in most JELD-WEN® windows and patio doors with an optional upgrade to LoĒ3-366 glass, featuring three layers of silver for even greater UV protection. These coatings block 95 percent of harmful UV rays and dramatically reduce the solar heat gain of windows. Ultimately, a home protected by Low-E glass remains comfortable year-round, and heating and cooling costs are reduced year after year. - Mind the gaps
Seal and weather-strip your windows and doors to ensure you’re not wasting energy. You can save up to 10 percent on your energy bills if done properly. A home's front door can play a vital role as one of the first lines of defense against the elements. If a door does not close properly or lets in a draft, utility bills will pay the price. If these features cannot be easily fixed, it may be time to replace the door. - Check the compass
The direction windows and doors face can make a big difference in the sun's intensity level within the home. South- and west-facing windows and doors should have the highest level of UV protection. Window and door exterior overhangs are also important to provide privacy and block powerful solar radiation from entering the home while helping to reduce electricity usage and indoor temperatures during the summer. - Let the sun do the work
In the winter, keep blinds or drapes on sun-exposed windows open during the day to help heat your home. - Clean it up
During heavy-usage months, air filters get dirty more often, slowing airflow and making a system work harder and waste energy. Regularly check your air filter and replace it as needed to avoid dirt buildup. - Calculate the savings
Beyond the initial purchase price of a product, consider the long-term value that energy efficient products offer in terms of annual measurable savings. Replacing single-pane windows with double-pane windows can save you anywhere from $125 to $450 on energy costs each year. In addition, many local utilities offer rebates for purchasing ENERGY STAR qualified windows and doors. To calculate how much you can save with new windows, visit www.cardinalcorp.com/application/energycalc.htm. - Exteriors need protection too
Apply a UV-resistant clear-coat, paint or stain per the manufacturer's recommendation to guard against the heavy beating doors take from the sun. To prevent warping on a wood door, apply the coating to all six sides. As another option when choosing a door, consider a fiberglass door as they are built to be long lasting and easy to maintain in any climate. - Material matters
Vinyl is the preferred choice for replacement windows today and represents 65 percent of the window replacement market. Vinyl windows reduce heat transfer and will help better insulate the home. Wood is also a good insulator against the elements and fits with many of the traditional architectural styles desired by homeowners today. - Drive home efficiency
The garage is often forgotten when it comes to energy efficiency, but it's one of the largest entry points of the home. The temperature of a garage greatly affects the overall temperature of the entire home. For energy savings in the garage, find a proper-fitting garage door and make sure that the door leading from the garage to the inside of the home is also energy efficient.