Here at Divine Home Remodeling, we are very committed and dedicated to the idea of sustainability and energy efficiency. Not only do we want our customers to save as much money as possible, but we also care deeply for the environment we share with one another. Less-than-optimal energy efficiency, no matter where it occurs, is harmful to our environment and has the potential to contribute to serious problems such as pollution and climate change. We love our warm sunny environment here in San Diego, and we love the community we are a part of. As home remodeling/renovation contractors, we recognize that the area we stand to make the most difference in is in home energy efficiency. We’ve put together this list of what we consider to be the top 5 most impactful renovation project that a home can undergo to increase overall home energy efficiency
Windows
Window renovation is probably the single most significant category we can think of that stands to have the greatest impact in overall home energy efficiency. This is because the spaces that windows occupy represent the greatest possible place for heat and/or cool air to escape from. Windows, at least to us, represent literal holes in a home’s insulation, and therefore it is our opinion that they deserve the greatest attention in terms of overall home energy efficiency.
Today’s modern window technologies offer incredible insulative properties. Our windows can be installed with up to 3 window panes that have insulative gases such as argon installed in between each pane.
Natural Lighting
Replacing your old windows with more energy efficient ones not only offer the ability to slash your energy bill, but they also offer the opportunity to add a unique touch of customization to your home. One of the ways this can be taken of advantage of to further increase your home’s energy efficiency is by thinking of your windows as ways to enhance the natural lighting of your home and reduce your electricity bills
Artificial lighting is a drain on your home’s energy efficiency as well as your electricity bill. Window renovation projects give you the opportunity to increase the size of your windows and let in more natural light, and you can also have windows installed where there weren’t any before to let in even more natural light than there was before.
Another way to increase the overall amount of natural lighting in your home is to repaint your walls with colors that are very light and allow for maximum reflection of light. This helps increase the effect of natural lighting and makes a room even more illuminated. The fabric that your furniture has, along with the fabric you use for decorations such as table cloths or pillow cases can also enhance the illumination of a given room by again opting for lighter, more reflective colors.
Install a Smart Thermostat
The energy used to either heat or cool your home throughout the year is one of the most costly aspects of homeownership in terms of energy efficiency. However, all too often we forget to turn off the thermostat when we leave the house, or when we fall asleep, and it ends up costing quite a lot.
Smart Thermostats offer the ability to have a fully programmable thermostat that can be adjusted to exactly match your habits and optimize your energy efficiency. By connecting to your smartphone, the thermostat will know whether or not your are home, and can even tell if you are on your way home. Furthermore, you can completely control the thermostat through your phone regardless of whether or not you are actually home. Smart thermostats make such a difference in overall home energy efficiency that they have been shown to reduce the cost of heating and cooling the home by 10% on average!
Smart Thermostats can also be programmed to have a set schedule of heating and cooling, which is particularly useful if you work from home or have a very set schedule. The best part is that with this feature, you will never have to worry about whether or not your remembered to turn off the thermostat because it will do it completely on its own!
Conclusion:
As part of our commitment to our community as well as to the health of our environment, we consider any renovation projects that address home energy efficiency to not only be our top specialty, but also a priority. No matter how big or small the project you have in mind is, even if it promises to reduce your energy waste by just a fraction, we promise we can get the job done as effectively as possible. We offer estimates and consultations completely free of charge, regardless of the size of the renovation project. Please get in touch with us right away, as we would love to discuss how we can help make your home more energy efficient.