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5 Energy Saving Tips for Your Home

Energy Saving Tips

Over the last few years, energy efficiency has become one of the hottest and most important concepts in the housing industry. As our society has become more environmentally conscious, businesses and homeowners alike have taken great strides to reduce the amount of energy they consume. More than just a trend, the idea of energy efficiency is clearly here to stay, and for good reason.

One major reason for the increasing energy awareness among homeowners is the fact that it is mutually beneficial to both the individual and society as a whole. Reducing your energy consumption helps to have a positive impact on the earth, preserving it for future generations and potentially reversing some of the damage already done. But saving energy also has a number of benefits for individual homeowners, most notably in financial terms. Taking steps to reduce the amount of energy your home uses will lead to significant savings on your electric, water, heating and air costs.

For those who live in manufactured homes, these savings can be particularly beneficial, as mobile and manufactured homes often come with lots of opportunities to save on energy. Additionally, those who live or vacation in motorhomes (as seen at https://www.avidarv.com.au/motorhomes) can take advantage of countless ways to reduce energy and fuel usage. Manufactured/mobile home owners are nothing if not resourceful, and many have found clever and unique energy saving tips specifically for these homes. The following are some of the best and most useful of these techniques.

Add Insulation

Insulation

While all mobile and manufactured homes come with some amount of insulation, there is almost always room for more insulation or more efficient insulation. Two key areas where this can be useful are the roof and floor of your home.

Especially if your home has a sloped roof, this generally means there is more room for energy-saving insulation. In the opposite direction, your floor may also have room for better insulation. A properly insulated manufactured home can reduce energy usage by up to 15%.

Properly Maintain Your Heating System

A heating furnace in a mobile/manufactured home is unlike that in a traditional house, and it requires its own specific maintenance steps. You should clean or replace the furnace filters on a regular basis and vacuum the vent ducts frequently. While some steps can be taken by a dedicated homeowner, major heating maintenance must be done professionally, and you should have your system inspected and serviced before the beginning of every winter.

Additionally, ensuring that heating ducts are properly sealed can be one of the most advantageous energy-saving steps of all in a manufactured home. If there are leaks or cracks, acrylic mastic tape can be used to seal them and reduce any wasted heat/energy.

Make the Most of Your Air Conditioner

Air Conditioner

Air conditioners take a lot of energy to run, and reducing the time your A/C is running will reduce energy costs. Take steps to help your home cool naturally, such as using additional insulation, making use of shade trees, utilizing window films and any other techniques that help your house retain cool air or avoid heat.

Also, ensure that your air conditioner is properly sealed and insulated to avoid wasting unnecessary energy. Weather stripping and caulk can be greatly useful for this. If you use a window unit, you may want to remove it completely during winter months and temporarily seal the window completely, helping your home retain heat.

Change Your Light Bulbs

Although this strategy is not exclusive to manufactured homes, it is too important, easy and beneficial to not list here. A large portion of your energy consumption can be reduced by being proactive about your lighting, as approximately 10-12% of energy usage in most homes come from lighting.

The best way to cut a chunk out of your energy costs is by changing your light bulbs to compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL) or energy-efficient LED bulbs. These generally require a fraction of the energy used by traditional bulbs, while still providing the same (if not better) lighting. Also, this should go without saying, but simply turning lights off when they are not needed can save more than you may imagine.

Improve Your Windows

energy-efficient-window

It may be expensive, but upgrading to energy-efficient windows will pay off in the long run. They will also help your home remain comfortable, no matter the time of year or temperature outside. If this is not an option, simple plastic window coverings can greatly reduce energy usage and eliminate drafts.

Article Submitted By Community Writer

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