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Many household budgets are stretched to the limit, and families are looking for ways to reduce spending. Energy-efficient homes can help reduce some of the highest bills many households face — fuel and energy. Many easy, creative techniques exist to increase energy efficiency around your house.
Creative Landscaping
Image via Flickr by oatsy40
Planting shrubs and trees is a natural way to reduce the direct sunlight and heat your house receives during the hottest months of the year. Shade and water vapor from the plants can lower the nearby air temperature by 6 degrees Fahrenheit. Plant deciduous trees, such as maple, to give shade in the summer and sunlight in the winter. For year-round shade, plant pine or other evergreen trees.
Evergreen trees can also be used as windbreaks. Natural windbreaks on the north, east, and west sides of your home can reduce fuel costs by an average of 40 percent.
Shade Screens
If you don’t have the yard space available for planting trees, you can use shade screens to block out excess sunlight and heat. Shade screens can eliminate up to 90 percent of heat and sunlight from entering your home. Dual shades — with one light and one dark side — can maximize the amount of heat either reflected or absorbed into your home, depending on the season.
In order to be most effective, place the screens on the windows on the south and west sides of your home. Make sure to mount the screens as close to the window pane as possible, and keep the sides of the shade close to the wall to ensure an airtight seal.
Solar Cooking
Solar cookers require no fuel and can be used to cook various foods such as grains, beans, and vegetables. Within an hour, solar cookers can reach a temperature of up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Solar cookers work best when placed in a section of your yard that receives plentiful sunshine.
It’s easy to make your own solar cooker with just a few household items. Follow these simple instructions to create your own working solar cooker for your backyard.
Solar Lighting
Solar lights are a great way to line pathways without driving up your electric bills. Make sure to place solar lights in an area of your yard that will receive the recommended hours of sunlight in order to ensure the lights will be visible at night.
Another creative way to illuminate your yard at night is to use glow-in-the-dark paint on rocks in your garden. Make sure not to place the rocks in the shade so they will absorb light during the day.
Brighten Up Your Interior
Paint your walls and ceilings with light colors. The bright hues will reflect more light and reduce the need for high-wattage light bulbs. Use natural light whenever possible. Open your curtains to let in the sunlight. If possible, install skylights in rooms that have no windows. Speaking of windows, adding storm resistant windows in Florida is a great idea.
Depending on how much outdoor space is available, you can use any of these techniques to reduce electric and fuel bills, as well as make your home more energy efficient.
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Hi there! I am Emily Evert, the owner of Emily Reviews. I am 28 and live in a small town in Michigan with my boyfriend Ryan and our two pugs. I have a large family and I adore my nieces and nephews. I love reading memoirs, and learning about child development and psychology. I love watching The Game of Thrones, Teen Mom, Sister Wives and Veep. I like listening to Jason Isbell, John Prine, and other alt-country or Americana music. I created Emily Reviews as a creative outlet to share my life and the products that I love with others.
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These are great tips for making your home more energy efficient, thanks for sharing! Shade screens are pretty much a must here in Texas since our Summers are so hot. It really makes a huge difference!