While it is possible to improve a home's energy efficiency in any climate, the predominant weather in an area has an impact on which efficiency measures will be the most valuable. For example, in especially cold areas such as Juneau or especially hot areas such as Phoenix replacement windows can cause a marked change in the cost of heating or cooling a house, whereas the impact of new windows in a more moderate climate will be less.
Any time you set out to improve your home's energy efficiency there are three dynamics to keep in mind. First, generating energy at your home from a clean source is far more efficient. Second, lighting your home more efficiently cuts down on energy consumption. Third, heating and cooling your home more efficiently is often the single most important area of overall efficiency.
The climate that you live in will, to a great degree, dictate your ability to generate power on your property. Those who live in a rainy climate, for example, won't benefit from solar panels the way that those who live in a sunny climate will. And it's pointless to install a windmill where there isn't any wind. But if you can generate power it's a good idea to do so: energy burns off in wires, so the shorter the distance is between production and plug the better.
One exception is a geothermal well, which generates power based on the exchange of heat between one end of a rod that is sunk deep into the ground and the other end of the rod, which is exposed. The temperature below the ground is fifty-six degrees Fahrenheit all the time, so any time the temperature above the ground is different (higher or lower) a geothermal well can generate electricity.
But producing power is only one way to increase efficiency. Reducing your home's consumption of power is just as important, and one of the most significant consumers of power is lighting. This can be changed by switching high efficiency light bulbs for the standard ones or by correcting bad habits. Simply turning the lights off when you leave a room can save a lot of electricity and substantially improve efficiency.
Beyond these simple fixes, it is possible to improve the way you light your home by making better use of natural light. In older homes that tend to have smaller windows, you can make a significant change by increasing the size and quantity of those windows. Even without structural changes, using mirrors to reflect (and reuse) natural light can greatly reduce your reliance on artificial lights powered by electricity.
Most people spend the most money on heating and cooling their homes, which means that heating and cooling use the most power. This can be mitigated by installing newer, more efficient equipment, as well as by improving the insulation of your home to bring it up to today's construction standards. The better insulated a home is, the less affected it is by the temperature outside.
In addition to re-insulating the home, replacing windows can demonstrably improve efficiency. The value of new windows has been well enough established that in hot places like Los Angeles and Phoenix replacement windows qualify for rebates from most utilities. Replacing the windows creates a good (and often subsidized) opportunity to expand the size of windows wherever possible, increasing the amount of natural light available inside the home.
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