One of the most important considerations needed before deciding to install a renewable energy system is to lower your energy consumption as much as possible. As a rule of thumb, for every dollar spent on making your home more energy efficient, you will save $3 to $5 dollars on your renewable energy system investment. This could mean that for as little as a few hundred dollars correcting leaks in an average home, it could save you thousands of dollars when going to invest in that wind and/or solar system.

Most homeowners realize there may be issues with their home that could be corrected but have not really looked at the big picture when it comes down to where all the wasted energy goes. It could be as simple as caulking around a few windows and doors, or be as extensive as putting insulation in all the walls and attic as well as replacing all the windows in the dwelling. Unfortunatly, in some cases it is not always an easy fix but could make sense in the long run whether installing a renewable system or not. In many cases, when adding all the leaks up, it would equal the same effect as leaving a window open all the time during winter. Some homeowners who live in a newer home may think they are as energy efficient as it gets, however, even those homes could also use a tune-up. The new home we had built did.

Before you invest the time and expense of installing a renewable system, a home energy audit by a trained energy consultant may be in order. Many are starting to use a thermo imaging camera that sees problems not seen with the naked eye. They will usually be able to identify some of the issues that, for less than a couple hundred dollars, will be able to save you thousands of dollars on that new renewable energy system you are considering installing. With the average home in America, the majority of homeowners could reduce their energy consumption 30% to 50%.

If the home you are living in right now feels cold in the winter shortly after the furnace turns off, or feels warm in the summer time shortly after the air conditioner reaches its thermostat setting, it may be a good idea to have it looked at by a consultant who is certified in thermography to help identify where your home is lacking in its energy efficiency. You may find out about other issues that need immediate attention you were not even aware. Either way, it will be money well spent.

This entry was posted on Sunday, December 14th, 2014 at 2:58 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.