Here’s how to make your home more energy-efficient this year

As we get into the coldest days of winter, most Albuquerque homeowners are running their heating systems full-time to keep their homes comfortable. As a result, utility bills are on the rise. One long-term strategy for curbing consistently high heating costs is making your home more energy-efficient. In this article, we’ll review the best ways to improve your home’s energy-efficiency this year, from installing a new thermostat to adding insulation.

Install a new smart thermostat

Programmable thermostats are incredibly popular at the moment, and for good reason: not only can they help your home become more comfortable, but they can also save you money on your monthly utility bills. Smart thermostats accomplish this by automating temperature changes throughout the course of the day. If you’re out of the house and at work from 9-5 every day, the smart thermostat will automatically recalibrate the temperature to adjust for your absence. By doing this, these thermostats can greatly reduce heating waste during the winter, saving you money.Depending on where you live, some utility companies offer rebates or special programs for homeowners who upgrade to a smart thermostat. Be sure to talk to your utility provider about such programs—they can extend your savings even further!

Add more attic insulation

As we all know, hot air rises. Without sufficient attic insulation, the hot air generated by your furnace or heat pump for your home will rise right through the roof. By adding more attic insulation, you can create an insulated blanket that traps more heating (and, in the summer, cooling) inside of your home. While some homes may already have sufficient insulation, most do not, and homeowners can put themselves in a great position to save money for years to come by adding more of it.

Seal around your doors and windows

If you have significant air leaks around your doors and windows, you’re losing on two fronts: first, that cold, winter air is getting in and creating drafty conditions in your home. Second, the hot air generated by your heat pump or furnace is escaping through these gaps. Luckily, this is an easy problem to fix. Using caulking and weatherstripping, seal these gaps around your doors and windows to block the transfer of air. You should notice your energy bills decrease after doing this.

When in doubt, talk with an expert

At Wagner, we’re your energy-efficiency experts here in Albuquerque and Santa Fe, New Mexico. If you’re looking to make your home more energy-smart, a great place to start is by scheduling a heating checkup with us this winter. We’ll assess the efficiency of your current furnace or heat pump and ensure that it’s running at its best. During this maintenance visit, we can also answer any questions you have about your thermostat, insulation, or general home energy-efficiency.