Top 6 Ways Your Pennsylvania Home is Wasting Energy

Our customers in Lancaster, Berks and Chester Counties are realizing significant savings on their energy bills when they correct the sneaky ways energy is being wasted their homes, including:

  1. Inadequate insulation. R-30 is now standard in attics (12”), but homes over 15 years old typically have half of that and “standard mass insulation” (fiberglass/cellulose), which will not stop radiant heat energy from escaping your home. This causes your heating and cooling units to work overtime to maintain a comfortable temperature.By installing a radiant barrier in your attic, you will prevent energy loss, your home will be warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer, and best of all, your heating and cooling costs will go down.
  2. Leaky windows & doorsHomes with poor weather stripping, un-insulated doors and single pane glass windows are serious energy wasters, allowing heat or air-conditioned air to pass right through or under them. A temporary solution is to use one of the several products made to prevent drafts under doors, and a plastic covering for windows in the winter to prevent heat loss. These items can be purchased at a local hardware store for minimal cost.However, the most efficient and cost-effective solution is to upgrade to Energy Star-rated windows and doors. If you’re on a limited budget, consider replacing a couple windows or doors at a time. Over time, you’ll see a nice return on your investment.
  3. Old appliances and HVAC equipment. You might be hanging on to outdated appliances, air conditioners and heaters to avoid the cost of replacing them, but every month, they are costing you money. Old refrigerators and freezers use 2-3 times the energy as newer, Energy Star-rated units. If you have an old washing machine, not only does it require more energy to run than newer machines, it also uses much more water than updated front load models.
  4. Phantom load. Phone chargers, TV’s, VCR’s and similar small appliances that are plugged in, actually use electricity even if they are not turned on. That means while you’re sleeping, your TV and computer are using up energy. A good tip is to plug these items into an outlet on a switch, and turn the switch to off when they are not in use.
  5. Attic not vented properly. Most attics reach temperatures over 115 degrees on a hot summer day. Proper attic ventilation will reduce cooling costs and increase shingle life. Consider a solar powered attic fan, which is easy to install and runs on free solar energy.
  6. Water heater tank. Water heaters over 4 years old typically have poor insulation and lose up to 40% of their heat while not in use. Some options you have are to add a thermal blanket/wrap to your water heater, or consider a more energy-efficient tankless water heater or solar powered system.

Need help identifying problem areas in your home that are wasting energy?

Ask us about our free, no-obligation home energy audit.

Share This:


Quote
I would give Choice 10 stars if I could. The folks at Choice Home Remodeling have replaced all 31 of the windows in our house over the past year. They are incredibly professional and deliver an outstanding final product. The replacement windows look better than the originals and I get compliments on them all the time! The inside temperature of the inside glass on a 55 degree day has improved by 8 degrees! I am looking forward to seeing what the differential is once the weather turns cold. Their pricing is fair and the quality is second to none. I recommend them 1000%.
We absolutely love the new door we just had installed from Choice! We had such a great experience with Choice from start to finish. Tim was great and helped us pick out the perfect door for our home and didn't try to sell us the most expensive model and was honest, not pushy. Everyone we came in contact with was friendly and professional and the work was top notch.
I bought my windows from them. Everyone one was so nice and professional. Christie was very helpful. Thank you, will use again for other projects
So pleased with our bathroom renovation by Choice Home Remodeling! Alyssa Hayes did an excellent job in designing a functional and attractive way to best utilize our small space. Our kids are thrilled to have their own sinks! Alyssa patiently guided us through the design choices, made recommendations and outlined the construction process. The construction phrase was very timely, and Ken Brown was available for any questions and kept us informed of the schedule and what part of the project was happening when. I was very impressed that the job was finished very close to the scheduled completion date. The Choice staff and subcontractors were all respectful of our space and did a thorough job.