With skyrocketing utility costs showing no signs of slowing down, many homeowners are looking for proactive ways to cut household expenditures. Fortunately, some green remodeling projects really do have a significant impact on how much people pay for electricity, gas, heating oil, and other items associated with running a home. Following are five projects that the average homeowner who is looking for ways to shave utility costs should consider.
Reflective Roofing Materials
Reflective roofing materials can drastically reduce the need for indoor air conditioning because they reflect solar heat back up into the atmosphere. Simply painting the roof white can have a similar effect. Homeowners who live in areas that experience significant winter cold, however, might want to consider installing dark-colored roofing material instead so that it will attract solar heat into the home.
Window Replacements
Because both warm and cool air can escape through drafty windows, window replacement in Covina will provide benefits for both winter and summer. Modern building practices have resulted in windows that are essentially airtight and condensation-free. Modern improvements in glass technology also mean that outside noise levels are greatly reduced as a result of having replacement windows installed.
Low-Flow Water Fixtures
With many parts of the country experiencing water shortages, homeowners are beginning to understand the value of conserving as much water as possible. Low-flow faucet and plumbing fixtures provide an excellent way to achieve this.
Smart Sprinkler Systems
Another way that homeowners can conserve both water and money is by installing smart sprinkler systems in their outdoor landscaping. These work by testing soil moisture levels via sensors as well as by testing atmospheric humidity levels and temperatures. They’ll turn themselves off, for instance, once soils have reached a certain moisture level or if it begins to rain.
Solar Panels
Once thought to be little more than the vision of counterculture dreamers, solar panels have gone mainstream in a big way during the past decade. While rooftop solar panels can’t completely fuel the average modern home, they can take a substantial edge off the average utility bill. It is not necessary for homeowners to live in warm-weather areas to take advantage of solar power, although the benefits will be less for those who live in parts of the country that have long winters or significant cloud cover during much of the year.
