Sustainable upgrades you can make to your home this year
Studies show that U.S. homes produce about
20% of the greenhouse gases in the country. To help reduce greenhouse gas emissions in homes, Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act last August. The bill includes the High Efficiency Electric Home Rebate Act, which provides low- and moderate-income homes with point-of-sale rebates to help reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by improving energy usage. Here are six ways to make sustainable improvements in your home.
Weatherize your walls and windows
Losing heat in the winter and cool air in the summer frustrates homeowners, who see the difference in their utility bills. But lost energy also increases greenhouse gas emissions. To help prevent this, look into caulking and sealing your windows and installing insulation in your walls.
Caulking/sealing windows and doors: $50-70 per window/door Insulation installation: $1,600-$2,700
Rewire your home
Outdated wiring in your home causes inefficient energy usage and can be dangerous. Always make sure to replace any knob and tube wiring to ensure safety. A professional knows the most up-to-date codes and can help determine what energy needs fit your lifestyle. If you’re considering purchasing an electric car, definitely upgrade your electrical box.
Updating/replacing an electrical box: $520$2,000 for 200 amps
Rewiring a home: $2-$4 per square foot of home size
Install efficient appliances
If you need to replace appliances like refrigerators, washers/dryers, dishwashers, water heaters and HVAC, look for ones that are Energy Star certified. These appliances’ motors, compressors and pumps are designed to save energy. If your appliances are already Energy Star certified, install a smart thermostat to save more on your utility bill.
Installing a smart thermometer: $110-$250
Switch to heat pumps
Along with choosing energy-efficient water heaters, furnaces and air conditioners, installing heat pumps for water heaters and HVAC can protect both the equipment and your utility bill. Heat pump water heaters can be the most expensive on the market, but they can be up to three times more efficient than electric or gas water heaters, even Energy Star-certified units.
HVAC heat pump technology has improved enough in recent years to be functional in colder climates that often dip below freezing. They are pricey, but can save up to half your heating costs.
Heat pump water
heaters: $3,900-$20,000 HVAC heat pumps: $3,900-$6,200
Install efficient toilets
Toilets made before
1980 use up to seven gallons of water per flush. Today’s low-water toilets use about 1.5 gallons per flush. Dual-flow toilets use half- and full-flush options to help you use water more efficiently when flushing liquid or solid waste. While installing one of these toilets could save around $100 on your water bill each year, the downside is they require more frequent cleanings.
Toilet installation: $400-$800
Switch away from gas
A significant way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is to replace your gas appliances and HVAC with electricity. Gas stoves can leak methane (even when turned off ), not to mention carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide, which impacts children and adults with COPD and asthma. Electric and induction stoves use fewer fossil fuels and are safer than gas. They also don’t require a gas line, which means lower installation costs.
Installing an electric stove: $360-$1,800
Installing electric furnace: $1,600-$7,000