6 easy steps to make your home more energy-efficient

Insulating window treatments, like our blackout shades, are essential for regulating indoor temperatures and reducing your home's use of costly heating or cooling systems.

This is just one of many cost-effective, simple ways of improving your home's energy efficiency and reducing your energy bills.

What does energy efficiency mean?

Energy efficiency involves using less energy to accomplish the same tasks. It's about optimizing your energy consumption across all aspects of your home - from the appliances and electronics in your home to your habits and behaviors surrounding your energy usage. 

Take a look around your home - lights, air conditioning, appliances, electronics, and more are constantly drawing power. If these devices are outdated or used inefficiently, they can draw far more power than they actually need. This excess energy use doesn't just bloat your utility bills, it also generates excess greenhouse gas emissions that are harmful to the environment.

There are many ways you can become more energy efficient: investing in energy-saving technologies, modifying daily routines that consume excess power, and cultivating smart habits centered around conserving energy.

How else can I make my home more energy-efficient?

1. Install blackout shades

The bulk of most Americans' utility bills comes from heating and air conditioning use - and windows are a major source of heat gain and loss in the home. Think of them like a big hole in the wall: if there's nothing to insulate your indoor area from the outdoors, that heating or cooling effort is wasted.

That’s why the materials and fit of your windows matter more than they might seem. Poor insulation or outdated frames can cause drafts, uneven temperatures, and constant cycling of your heating or cooling system. For example, older single-pane windows in a sunny Los Angeles apartment can let in so much heat that even with the AC running, the room stays uncomfortably warm. In these cases, fining a trusted source for custom windows and doors in LA can make a real difference. It is important to use energy-efficient glass and tighter seals when choosing custom options so that you can reduce heat gain in summer and retain warmth in winter.

Installing blackout shades over your windows creates a thermal layer between the temperature of the outdoors and indoors. And it doesn't stop there: 

During cooler months, open your blackout shades and let natural sunlight warm your living spaces - an effective way to reduce dependence on artificial heating while filtering in mood-boosting daylight.

As temperatures rise in summer, close the shades to block out the sun's intense rays, maintaining comfortable and cool conditions without the need for air conditioning.

Bonus - Automate your savings

Surprisingly, the U.S. Department of Energy reports that 75% of residential window coverings remain in the same position daily, diminishing their energy-saving potential.

Automating your shades, with timers and apps, to open and close on a set schedule can significantly improve thermal efficiency and reduce lighting energy consumption.

Learn more about automating UBlockout

2. Upgrade to energy-efficient appliances

When it's time to replace or upgrade appliances, look for energy-efficient alternatives. Modern appliances often use less electricity and water, which means they’re not only good for the planet but also kinder to your back pocket in the long term. Look for products with the Energy Star label - a hallmark of efficiency that can help reduce your home’s electrical load.

3.  Unplug unused electronics

It’s a small habit that can lead to big savings: unplugging electronics that are not in use. Many gadgets and appliances, including chargers, computers, and TVs, draw power even when they’re turned off, a phenomenon known as "phantom load". By unplugging these devices or using smart power strips, you can cut down on unnecessary power usage.

4. Optimize usage of large appliances

Operating large appliances such as dishwashers, washing machines, and dryers are major energy consumers that drive up your bills.

Look for opportunities to reduce or even eliminate appliance usage entirely:

• on warm, sunny days, hang clothes out to air dry instead of using a tumble dryer
• always pack a full load in your dishwasher, using the eco wash if possible
• use lower energy appliances like ceiling fans to circulate air for cooling rather than using the AC
• maximize solar panel efficiency by running appliances during peak daylight hours, between 11am and 4pm, when your system is producing the most energy

5. Switch to LED lighting

LED's use at least 75% less energy and last 25 times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs. This not only means fewer bulb replacements and less waste but also greater cost savings.

The average household saves about $225 in energy costs per year by making the switch to LED lighting. And you don't need us to remind you that yearly saving could go towards investing in more efficient appliances or technologies to better insulate your home!

6. Seal leaks and drafts

Check for leaks or drafts around doors, windows, and other openings. Properly sealing these can improve your heating and cooling efficiency by keeping the desired temperature in and the elements out, further reducing the strain on your heating and cooling systems.

Save big on energy with UBlockout

By installing innovative, energy-saving products like UBlockout's premium blackout shades, you get best-in-class light and temperature control capabilities engineered for optimal energy performance. Start implementing these energy-saving tips today and join the journey towards a greener lifestyle.

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