Every home renovation brings an opportunity to improve your home beyond appearance. The right upgrades can also reduce energy costs by helping your home use less electricity and natural gas year-round.
If you’ve been wondering why your electric bill is so high, your electrical demand may be part of the problem. Here are some improvements that will help make your home more energy-efficient during your next renovation.
1. Upgrade Insulation in Attics, Walls, and Floors
Insulation slows the transfer of heat between your home and the outdoors. Without enough insulation, heated air escapes more quickly during winter, and outdoor heat enters more easily during summer. This forces your HVAC system to run longer and harder all year.
Attics are one of the best places to upgrade insulation, as heat can more easily escape through your roofline. Exterior walls, floors over crawlspaces, and basement rim joists can also be sources of air leaks.
The right amount and type of insulation depends on your climate, home construction, and area being renovated. If walls or floors are already being opened during construction, this is a good time to add or improve insulation.
2. Replace Old Windows
Older windows can result in drafts, heat loss, and unwanted solar heat gain. If your remodeling project already includes exterior work or window replacement, opting for more efficient products can help reduce the amount of heating or cooling your home needs.
Look for windows with performance ratings for your climate, including low U-factor and solar heat gain coefficient ratings. Features like multiple panes, insulated frames, and low-emissivity coatings can also improve thermal performance.
However, you don’t always have to replace your windows. If your existing windows are structurally sound, sealing, weatherstripping, caulking, or other window treatments can improve performance for less overall cost.
3. Install a Smart Thermostat
A smart thermostat is a small remodeling upgrade that makes it easier to manage heating and cooling throughout the day. Many models allow you to create schedules, adjust temperatures remotely, and reduce unnecessary HVAC operation when no one’s home.
The biggest savings from a smart thermostat come when you use the above features. A properly configured smart thermostat can adjust temperatures around your routines, so you’re not wasting energy heating or cooling your house.
4. Upgrade to Energy-Efficient HVAC (Mini-Splits, Heat Pumps)
Heating and cooling are two of the greatest contributors to household energy use. HVAC upgrades often have a noticeable effect on long-term operating costs, so if your system is aging, a renovation may be a good time to consider an upgrade.
Depending on your home and layout, options include:
- High-efficiency central air conditioning
- Heat pumps
- Ductless mini-splits
- High-efficiency furnaces
- Zoned HVAC systems
The best choice for your home depends on how you use different spaces. For example, central air and mini-splits have different efficiency and operating-cost advantages depending on whether you regularly cool the entire home or only a few rooms at a time.
Before replacing equipment, have a qualified HVAC contractor evaluate system sizing, ductwork, insulation, and your home’s heating and cooling load.
5. Seal Air Leaks in Windows, Doors, and Ductwork
A home with efficient appliances can still waste energy through gaps and leaks. Air sealing keeps conditioned air inside while reducing how much outdoor air can enter your home.
Common problem areas include:
- Window and door frames
- Attic access points
- Plumbing and wiring penetrations
- Exterior wall openings
- Baseboards
- Recessed lighting
- Duct joints and connections
Ductwork deserves special attention because leaks can allow heated or cooled air to escape before it reaches rooms it’s supposed to serve.
6. Switch to LED Lighting
If you’re already replacing fixtures, rewiring rooms, or updating a kitchen or bathroom, it’s easy to transition to LED lighting.
LED bulbs use significantly less electricity than traditional incandescent bulbs and usually last much longer. Because they produce less heat, they can also reduce the amount of additional heat being added to your rooms during warmer months.
A remodel is also a good time to consider how lighting is controlled in your home. Consider adding dimmers, occupancy sensors, timers, or separate lighting areas so you only use the amount of light you actually need.
7. Upgrade Roofing with Energy-Efficient Materials
Your roof plays a key role in how much heat enters or leaves your home. If roof replacement is already part of the renovation, energy performance should be one of the factors you consider alongside durability, appearance, and cost.
Depending on your climate and roofing system, energy-efficient options may include reflective roofing materials, improved attic ventilation, radiant barriers, or additional attic insulation. Materials that reflect sunlight can reduce heat gain during hot weather, especially for homes in warmer climates.
8. Consider Energy-Efficient Appliances
Kitchen and laundry renovations typically involve replacing appliances such as:
- Refrigerators
- Dishwashers
- Washing machines
- Dryers
- Ovens and ranges
When comparing replacements, consider estimated annual energy use. ENERGY STAR-certified products are designed to meet higher efficiency standards, using less energy for the same performance. Additionally, some smart home appliances can help you monitor or manage energy use through features like scheduling, remote controls, or energy-use tracking.
Pair Your Remodel with a Smarter Energy Plan
Energy-efficient remodeling can reduce how much electricity or natural gas your home needs, but your energy plan also affects how much you pay for that usage. As you improve insulation, HVAC equipment, lighting, appliances, and other parts of your home, it may also be a good time to review your long-term costs.
In addition to supplying electricity and natural gas, Agway Energy Services® helps homeowners and small businesses manage repair costs with Agway EnergyGuard®. This value added service covers repairs to heating, cooling, and electrical systems. Our network of local contractors responds quickly, providing professional, high-quality assistance when you need it most.
*Coverage depends on commodity purchased.
