Want to make your home more efficient, but don’t want to pay for an in-home energy audit? No problem! The Home Depot has a home energy audit online (for FREE!). Just click on your state to get started.
I’ve been getting quite the education from the folks at The Home Depot lately. Here are some of the things I have learned so far about ways to make a difference in your home’s energy efficiency (and your electric bill).
Insulation:
Check your home’s insulation – especially the attic. How do you do that? Next time you are at The Home Depot look for a free R-Value ruler and one of the handouts with Dept. of Energy R-value Maps. These are both located in the aisle with the insulation. To determine the amount of insulation in your home, stick the ruler down into your current insulation and measure its depth. Then look at the Department of Energy Guide to see if you have enough.
Weather Stripping
Feeling a draft? Check your doors for gaps and your windows for cracks. Sealing your home’s doors and windows is a quick way to keep the air in and the weather out. The Home Depot experts suggest draft guards for doors and recommend sealing windows with caulk or simple weather stripping tape.
Check Your Thermostat:
Controlling the temperature of your home – especially when you are not in it – is a great way to save energy and money. If you don’t have one, consider upgrading to a programmable thermostat.
Air Filters
Changing out furnace and air filters every three months ensures that your home is as clean and efficient as possible.
Lighting
Switching to energy efficient lighting is one of the fastest and easiest ways to save energy (and money!). Consider replacing your incandescent bulbs with High Efficiency incandescent, CFL’s or try out the newest innovation in lighting, LEDs. (Um, I do not love those weird-looking CFL bulbs, but I’ve been doing some investigating and the LEDs are pretty cool).
Our House….in the middle of our street. Our House…
We are getting ready to make these kinds of home energy improvements to our house with help (and funds) from The Home Depot. I plan to chronicle our adventures and share the tips and solutions we learn along the way. And just so you know…when I say we, that’s a “royal” we. My husband will be handling a lot of the actual work while I fetch things, take notes and try not to fall down. And I kinda want a Home Depot apron or tool belt or something, but what I found at the store was for nails, and the hubs said there’s really no need for that. But what does it matter, huh? I can put a pen and notebook in there and wear it if I want to! S’my blog! Maybe I will even get a big carpenter pencil, sharpen it crudely and wear it behind my ear.
More to come, Folks, and The Home Depot wants to help you, too! So stay tuned for our first gift card giveaway…
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