From Guest Blogger Eileen O’Shanassey: Tricks to Make Your Home More Energy Efficient

With rising energy costs and continuing concerns about environmental impact, plenty of people are looking for ways to make their homes more energy efficient and to save some money in the process. Luckily for you, the last few years have seen a number of improvements made that help homeowners save money while saving energy. Gone are the days of energy efficiency meaning a massive remodeling job, as many of these updates can be done in a weekend.
Solar Panels

One of the most talked about improvements that can make a home more energy efficient is to use solar panels. Ten years ago, solar panels were bulky, unattractive, and expensive. Worst of all, they were not energy efficient, barely paying for themselves. Now, with advances in technology and tax breaks, solar panels are a cost-effective way to drastically reduce a home’s energy bill.

Sprinkler Control System

While solar panels often make the news, sprinkler control systems offer a way to increase the value of a home, save water, and lower monthly water bills all while building a healthier lawn. Instead of using a hose and sprinkler attachment, sprinkler control systems schedule for a lawn to be watered at a set time every week. As watering can be scheduled early in the morning, this reduces the total amount of water necessary, while saving the homeowner the trouble of waking in the wee hours of the morning. In fact, many Smart Controller sprinkler control systems can be controlled from a smartphone. Best of all, prices for these Smart Controller systems are very competitive.

Smart Thermostat

For the homeowner who wants to take the control that their smartphone has to the next level, simply controlling the sprinklers may not be enough. Instead, they should consider getting a smart thermostat. While the previous generation may have adhered to the “68 in the winter, 72 in the summer” rule of temperature control, present technology allows much more customization than that. Thermostats can be set to reduce costs during the workday, coming on a half hour before everyone gets home. In fact, they can be adjusted on the drive home in case of an unexpected return to the house.

The advancement of technology in the last ten years has meant that the homeowner with a mind to make their home more energy efficient has many more options than simply replacing windows or checking insulation. Given the low costs of smart thermostats and sprinkler control systems, as well as the tax incentives for solar panels, these investments show returns faster than ever before.