Try These Home Improvements

Feeling the Financial Drain of Utility Costs? Try These Home Improvements

Oftentimes, homebuyers will receive electric, water, and gas bills without even considering how to cut back on costs. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the average yearly cost per household for electricity, oil, and gas is over $1,500 dollars. In addition, according to the Herald Sun Australians are currently paying more than ever before for less water. With that, the best solution for any homeowner is to realize that through incorporating a few easy home improvements, one can save a great deal of money. To make things easier, below are the top home improvement suggestions that yield the best results.

Make the Switch

With bigger homes and with more gadgets and appliances that are being used, energy bills tend to skyrocket. One of the biggest culprits of wasted electricity is outdated light bulbs. Switching from incandescent lights to more energy efficient options can save you as much as 50% a year on your electricity costs. The best home improvement options for lighting falls under ideas such as incorporating more natural lighting into your home, use LED light bulbs, and even switching your regular outdoor lighting for halogen solar powered light. Furthermore, another home improvement tip to cut costs is to paint your home in lighter colors. Light paints reflect light much better and reduce your need of using electricity.

Appliances

While keeping your outdated appliances can save you money in removing the cost of buying a new product, you might want to reconsider. Home improvements come in varying degrees, and one simple improvement that will save you money is to purchase energy efficient appliances which can be a television, kitchen appliance, or even laundry machines. When looking for energy efficient appliances, the Australian government uses an energy rating system. For the best and most efficient products, choose products that have received a high star rating. The rating system also applies to gas products.

Hot Water System Upgrade

Most homes’ currently use electricity to heat the water in their home. A more pocket-savvy option is to switch from an electric water heater system to a gas water heater system. Gas instantaneous hot water heaters have gained a great deal of popularity in the past few years. Their compact style and their ability to provide a reliable and continuous stream of hot water are some of the major benefits that cannot be found with a traditional electric water heater. Therefore, due to the reliability and continuity, you can be sure that you’ll have enough hot water for multiple uses such as filling up your bath tub or washing clothing using hot water. In addition, unlike an electric water heater that you need to monitor and remember to turn off, the gas water heater is fully automatic and shuts down when a certain hot water threshold is met.

Garden Improvement

While most garden irrigation systems run on a timer to save water, these systems do not have an automatic shut off option when it rains. Therefore, if your water system is on when it is raining, you are immediately wasting both money and water. To prevent this from happening, consider upgrading your garden with a system that has a rain sensor. In addition, it is also a good option to use a drip water system and to time your system for the evening hours when water is cheaper.

Efficient Windows and Doors

You probably run your air conditioning during the sweltering hot summer months. However, before you do, you should consider whether or not the system is running optimally. This means checking that the device is not working harder than it needs to. This usually occurs when you have air leaving your home through poorly built windows and doors. Therefore, a great home improvement that you can make is to check and reseal your windows and doors. This also applies during the winter when you heat your home. Most of the energy will escape through cracks and crevices, making your system run more than it needs to.

Overall, home improvements come in many forms. When looking at the above options, you are probably considering which of the above can save you the most money. For starters, the most energy inefficient product on this list is an electric water heater. Thus, the most savvy move that you can make is to get a professional to install a new gas water heater to upgrade your home’s water system. The next best options are switching your lighting, sealing windows and doors, and changing your appliances. You’ll not only love the new efficiency of your home, but you’ll also appreciate that you won’t suffer from the massive financial drain that inefficient home’s produce.

 

Try These Home Improvements