The Problem With Older Buildings and Your Utilities
Older homes often consume much more power than newer buildings. They can greatly drive monthly bills up and cause many headaches to its tenants. However, there is a lot their owners can do about it if they choose to make their homes and lifestyles more energy-efficient. There are many ways to do this, from minor infrastructural adjustments to changes in your behavior.
The Beauty of Old Houses
Nothing has that much capacity as quirky old houses to bring out our imagination. Old houses have a special sort of magic, perhaps from those walls that could tell so many stories. The wear and tear is what reminds us of these stories and makes us feel as we are adding a chapter to an exceptional book. Moreover, you can never be bored living in an old house because there is always work to be done! The secret recipe is that the more you nurture it, the more you will fall in love to it. Losing ourselves in a passion project is known to increase our happiness. Also, old houses are the gifts that keep on giving; a warm house filled with memories is certainly more welcoming than an entirely sterile new building.
Why Are Older Buildings Energy-Inefficient
Poor Insulation – Insufficient insulation could be a result of old technology and it results in significant energy leakage. Improving an old building’s insulation could increase your energy savings for as much as 30 percent.
Old Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Systems– HVAC will be the greatest contributor to your monthly electricity bill. When these systems are old or not regularly maintained, they end up using a lot more energy. Newer systems are much more efficient and when automates, their efficiency is further amplified!
Lighting – Older buildings tend to have ‘on-off’ lighting. By using smart technology such as sensors can save 20-45% on lighting costs.
Leaky Windows Equate to Lost Energy – older buildings usually have single-panned windows which not only leak air but they can also create a greenhouse effect that drives up the cost of air conditioning. You can greatly reduce the energy waste if you replace them three times more efficient double-pane windows.
Chimney Exhaust Contains a substantial amount of Wasted Heat and Moisture – New technology can capture a large percentage of that heat and moisture and recycle it into other uses within the building. This retrieved heat can reduce gas usage.
Energy Saving Tips
Buy Energy-Efficient Appliances
Look for products that carry the Energy Star seal to ensure their efficiency.
Use Technology Wisely
Smart thermostats can help to make your home much more economical in the long run.
Change Your Habits
There are many obvious cost-effective habits such as: turn lights off when you don’t need them and reserve your AV or heating only for the rooms you are occupying.
Use Cold Water When You Can
Wash your clothes in cold water if they are not stained.
Use Eco Settings
Setting a few degrees less will hardly be noticeable yet for every one degree Fahrenheit down, you will use 1% less energy.
Use the Power of the Sun
Open or close your blinds depending on the season to keep your house warm or cooled down.
Ensure You Have the Best Provider
With so many different deals you can easily compare different providers in Pennelec service area and find the best rate that suits your usage. This small step alone can help you take off several hundreds of dollars of your electricity bill on an annual basis.
The Final Thought Most building owners do not even know how inefficient their building has become over time or how wasted energy is affecting their monthly bills. However, living in an older home does not necessarily mean you have to pay insanely high electric bills. If you invest in some energy-saving renovations or additions and be aware of how you use appliances, you can significantly bring costs down long-term, while still enjoying the beauty and uniqueness of an older home.
