Energy-Efficient Renovations
Canada is warming at twice the rate of the rest of the world. This summer, Alert, the most northern weather station in Canada, hit its all-time high – it was hotter than Victoria. The effects of climate change have a lot of Canadians concerned. Last year, SaskPower increased its rates by 3.5%. Should trends continue, rates for power across Canada will continue to go up. There are so many reasons Canadians are looking to renovate their homes in energy-efficient ways. We’re going to take a look at some of the renovations you can do to increase efficiency, and, in the long-term, save quite a bit of money.
Insulation
We live in one of the most extreme climates on the planet, with bone-chilling winters and searing hot summers. That means we run climate control basically all year round – we make good use of our air conditioning and furnaces. Optimizing climate control means optimizing insulation. That’s because insulation works both ways; it keeps your house warm in winter and cools in summer.
There are a few ways of insulating your house. One of the simpler ways is through attic insulation. You’d think that insulating an attic wouldn’t be the most scientific process in the world, but that’s not true – the materials we use to insulate have become more sophisticated over time, and new materials can provide much greater insulation. For older homes, it’s important to be extremely careful when changing an attic’s insulation; older attics had asbestos as insulation, and that’s a health hazard when it’s disturbed.
The next place to look is your windows and doors. There are two routes to take when it comes to insulating these. The first route is to make sure they’re properly weather-stripped, the doors have new door sweeps, the windows have insulating curtains; basically, you make sure your windows and doors have insulating accessories. The second option is to replace your windows and doors entirely; like everything else, new windows and doors are better designed and more energy-efficient than the old models. The other advantage is that you can get a refreshing aesthetic change to your home.
You should take a look at your roof, too. Roofs are one of the most important insulators for homes, and when tiles are chipped, lifted, or missing, a lot of cold (or hot) air can seep in. Getting a new roof, or repairing your old one can really improve your home’s energy efficiency. Start with a roofing inspection, and see if there are any repairs or replacements needed. This inspection will also help you assess if you need any changes to your roof for the next category of energy-efficient renovation…
Green Energy Renovations
Renewable energy technologies are one of the most exciting advancements we’ve seen in the last few decades. Back in the day, getting solar panels on your house would cost almost as much as the house itself, but prices have been steadily declining for solar, making it more affordable for everyone.
There’s some concern about the viability of solar in Regina and the surrounding area; winter is cold, and there’s not a lot of sun. Fortunately, Saskatchewan has a net metering program; that means that you can sell excess energy to SaskPower for credits. With the right system, you can run your solar panels to provide all the power you need in the summer and use the credits in the winter to drastically reduce your power bill.
There are a number of other green technology renovations you can employ, but they tend to require a lot of space. Yes, you could build a small hydro dam, but only if you’re outside the city and near a water source with enough current. The same idea applies to wind farms; you’d need a lot of property and a lot of resources. For homeowners, solar is the most viable renewable right now.
Appliance and Fixture Renovation
This is a pretty broad category, but it’s worth getting into because the energy savings can be substantial. Old appliances are much less energy-efficient than new ones and new low flow fixtures can save a lot of water.
One great way of finding the most energy-efficient appliances is to use the Energy Star guide; it will give you a ton of information on how much the products cost, what your estimated cost savings will be, and what makes the product more energy efficient. You can consult this for dishwashers, dryers, washing machines, and even some of the things we talked about before, like windows and doors.
You might remember at the top, we talked about how much heating and cooling contribute to energy costs in Regina. That, of course, means getting a new air conditioner or furnace will seriously increase the energy savings in your home. Start by having an inspection of your systems; you’ll learn about their overall condition, what repairs (if any) are needed, how to better maintain the systems, and how much you could save if you got a new system. You might not be able to afford a brand new system. If you can’t you should still fix your air conditioning and furnace if they need repairs. Those repairs can contribute a lot to energy savings. For those with the funds, a new system is almost certainly going to save you money over time.
These are just some of a number of different renovations that can make your home more energy-efficient. You’ll help the planet, you’ll save money, and your home will resell for more if you ever decide to put it on the market. What’s more, these changes can add a lot to the aesthetics of your home, making them a great choice for any homeowner. Get in touch with us, and we’ll go over some of the great ways you can make your home more eco-friendly, and more beautiful.
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