The thought of remodeling or renovating your home can be exciting, especially if it’s your first time. However, the expenses involved in the process can really put you in a foul mood if you don’t plan in advance. One of the ways you can keep more money in your wallet is by making your home more energy efficient during the renovation. So how do you do this? Our East Bay building contractors are here to answer that question.
6 Ways to Include Energy Efficiency Upgrades in Your Home Remodel/Renovation
- Check for excess moisture, water intrusion, and other issues
Before you get started, make sure to check for water intrusion issues so that excessive moisture cannot breed mold. Eliminating water-related issues will also give you better air quality indoors because you will have removed supporting environments for mold.
- Bring some changes to the HVAC system
Get an HVAC check done to see if anything in the system needs fixed or improved upon. You can consider adding new HVAC ducts to the portions of your home that are heated and cooled, instead of using space heaters or window A/C units, which waste a ton of energy. Try to insulate the ducts at the very least. Your budget and health will thank you for the decision!
Most people say that a fault in their HVAC system was the cause of energy loss issues.
- Check the water systems
One of the common ways energy loss can occur is through wastage of water. Give the idea of installing energy efficient water heaters a serious thought. Or at least insulate the pipes. For those of you who desire to get hot water faster, moving the heater close to the faucet can be a
great idea.
- Don’t focus on the “excessive”
When you are spending money, you may have the urge to spend on unnecessary things like installing multiple showerheads. Don’t do it! Go for a single shower head with a low flow rather than something you’d find at a car wash. You won’t believe how much money this will save you in the long run.
- Fix the air leaks
Recessed lights that protrude onto uninsulated spaces need to be insulated as they are one of the major sources of air leaks. Don’t miss this!
- Install a Smart Thermostat
Home renovations are a great time to update your thermostat to a “smart thermostat” that allows you to control your HVAC system remotely. Products like the Nest are great for energy savings as you can control the days/times your A/C or heating runs, and shut it off when you’re not home to do so.
Contact Our Bay Area Building Contractors for Help
If you’re not sure how to approach the home remodeling/renovation project, then give BA Morrison a call. We are a local Bay Area HVAC and general contractor that specialize in home renovations, kitchen remodeling, property maintenance and HVAC maintenance and installation. Contact us today by calling (510) 538-9817 or via our online contact form for more information.