HVAC Tips / February 2, 2021
4 Energy-Efficient Upgrades for Your Home
Many people want to have an energy-efficient home. Not only does it mean you spend less on energy, but you help the environment by reducing your carbon footprint. If you want to improve the energy-efficiency of your home while increasing the value, keep reading.
1. Upgrade to a Cool Roof
A cool roof by roofing contractors at Quality Built Exteriors is designed to absorb as little light and heat from the sun as possible. One of the leading features of a cool roof is the color. Darker colors absorb a lot of heat because they absorb a lot of light. Lighter colored roofs reflect back more light, so they don’t absorb as much heat. This is the same reason you feel hotter in a black shirt than a white shirt on a hot summer day.
The type of material also matters. On flat roofs, membranes like a modified bitumen sheet membrane work great, but other options include single-ply membranes and spray polyurethane foam. On steeper roofs installed by professional roofers, shingles (wood and asphalt), tile (clay or slate), and metal are great choices.
2. Switch to Solar Power
Solar panels capture energy from the sun. They transform that energy into something you can use inside the home. Depending on how many panels you have and how much energy they absorb, you may be able to reduce or eliminate your electric bill. Solar panels can be costly to install, but they do boost the value of your home. In addition, you’ll save money each month on energy bills.
3. Install Artificial Turf
A good lawn takes a lot of work and water. Even with good care, diseases, poor weather, pets, and other factors can cause your yard to look ugly. For this reason, many homeowners are considering artificial turf instead of real grass. With artificial turf, there is no watering, no fertilizing, no mowing, etc. As long as it’s high-quality, artificial turf can even increase the value of your home.
The leading downside of artificial grass is build-up. With regular grass, liquids like pet urine soak into the ground and eventually disappear. However, with turf, you may need to be more mindful about keeping the grass clean. Turf may also be more prone to surface heat, but it does not burn.
4. Replace Window AC Units
Air conditioning is becoming more and more important when buying and selling a home. However, window AC units are not enough. If you do use window units, consider upgrading to a whole-home system. The leading benefits of central AC units are their efficiency and effectiveness. They can easily cool your entire home and tend to come with many features, such as a dehumidifier.
Window units make zoned cooling easy because they only cool one room at a time, but window units aren’t good at filtering air. Therefore, if anyone in the home has allergies, a central system is best. Finally, window units don’t boost the value of your home, and in some cases, they can reduce curb appeal.
Your house isn’t just a home; it’s also an investment. Even if you aren’t planning on selling your home in the near future, making a few upgrades can help you save money and boost the value of your home. If you would like to learn more, or if you want to get a quote, contact us at Mauzy Heating, Air & Solar.
