Thanks for sharing your home energy saving wish lists with us in our recent survey. We heard from over 300 people and 85% said they had at least one energy saving project on their short list for this year.
And the # 1 energy saving project for 2015 is…Upgraded windows or doors, with 13% of you selecting that answer. Closely followed by Water heater upgrade and Efficient heating & cooling.
In order, drumroll please… your top 10 energy saving wish list projects of 2015 are:
1. Upgraded windows or doors
Energy efficient windows and doors with LowE glass do more than save on your utility bills. They enhance overall comfort, protect furniture from harmful UV rays and make the place look great.
2. Water heater upgrade
Water heater efficiency has been steadily increasing but if you are not home, you are still wasting energy keeping water hot in the tank. A tankless water heater can save 15% of your cost to heat water and saves space too.
3. Efficient heating & cooling
Twenty years ago a brand new gas furnace was 80% efficient. Today’s gas furnaces are 98% efficient, an 18% savings in energy use. Heat pumps can also dramatically lower heating costs, especially for electrically heated homes.
4. LED lighting
LED bulbs use 80% less energy and last 25 times longer than a standard bulb, making them the most efficient on the market. EnergyStar says changing out 15 standard bulbs for these will save up $50 per year on your electric bill.
5. Insulating & sealing
Leaky ducts, air leak spots and low insulation let heat flow out of the house, leaving it drafty, cold and costly to heat. Not as sexy as new windows, this improvement packs an energy saving punch.
6. Home energy audit
We’ve saved our customers an average of 21% on their energy costs by performing a home energy audit and then taking steps to improve their home performance. Plus it’s cool science!
7. Solar panels
Gaining in popularity, even in cloudy Washington State, some estimates say solar can cut electric bills between 50-90%. State rebates and incentives can help payback for the upfront expense.
8. Rain water collection and use
Save money and energy providing rainwater to your garden. Your plants will like the fact that it’s not chlorinated and you will always have an emergency water supply too.
9. Water saving plumbing fixtures
Saving water is only going to get more important as the century goes on. When you replace an old high flow toilet with a new low flow one you can reduce water use by 20% and save up to $200 per year.
10. Native plant landscaping
Native Western Washington plants require less water once they are established than non-native plants reducing water usage. Some Washington native plants:
For more information about these energy saving projects, please contact us at 800-398-4663 or visit us at booth 613 at the Seattle Home Show.
And don’t miss out on this month’s special financing offer for your window, door, water heater, heating & cooling, or insulation project.
Source: WES Home Wish List Survey, 2015 (responses under “other” were each less than 1%).
