1. Examine your home
A good first step before diving into any major renovation project is to walk your home and inventory the age of your appliances, heating and cooling equipment, and the condition of your home envelope. Although we use these components of our homes on a daily basis, many homeowners may not be aware of how old their systems and appliances are, or when they were last replaced. This information can be crucial when making decisions about which projects to plan, and understanding the condition of these systems can help you prioritize. For example, you may be looking to purchase a new energy efficient appliance, but after walking your home you find that your water heater is over 10 years old and nearing the time of breakdown. In this scenario, you could realize a greater ROI on efficiency and save yourself an emergency repair call if you were to upgrade to an efficient heat pump water heater as opposed to purchasing a brand new appliance.
2. Consider the impact of your project
Whether big or small, any home improvement project should be considered an investment. Choosing equipment and features that increase the efficiency of your home can come with a higher price tag, but the added cost will be paid back over time through energy bill savings. Making these kinds of investments can also increase comfort and safety, while helping you transition your home for the clean energy future. Start planning now for an ENERGY STAR Home Upgrade – a set of six high-impact energy efficiency projects designed to deliver significant energy savings. To help with the decision-making process more broadly, ENERGY STAR provides a range of expert advice on ways to optimize the energy-saving impacts of your home improvements.
3. Look for the ENERGY STAR
ENERGY STAR is the government-backed symbol for energy efficiency that has been around for over 30 years, and the little blue label can be found on 75 different types of products across hundreds of brands. Products that earn the ENERGY STAR label are independently certified to save energy and money while protecting the environment. In just one year, ENERGY STAR certified products helped consumers save 240 billion kWh of electricity, avoid $24 billion in energy costs, and achieve 180 million metric tons of greenhouse gas reductions!
4. Take advantage of rebates and tax credits
When thinking about ways to make a new appliance or home project more affordable, the first thing that comes to mind is likely looking for deals from retailers. However, there are other ways to save on upgrades - such as utility rebates and income tax credits which have been extended and increased through the Inflation Reduction Act. Several categories of products that are eligible for the ENERGY STAR label qualify for a federal tax credit, including products for the interior of a home, as well as improvements to a home’s envelope or exterior. Learn more about how you can apply these incentives to your next project.
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