Considering that San Diego is one of the most southern cities in California, the weather there isn’t as hot as one might expect. The summers are short, warm, arid, and clear, and the winters are long, cool, and partly cloudy. What is more, the average temperature during the peak of summer is just about 77 degrees, which is pretty comfortable for everyday living.
Under these conditions, it doesn’t come as a surprise that many homeowners are taking more and more steps to improve their energy efficiency and keep the bills under control. For instance, installing solar panels to take advantage of sunny days is a popular improvement.
Many San Diegonians replace and upgrade their windows and doors, invest in programmable thermostats, turn down the temperature of their water heaters, and install ceiling fans. A lot can be done, and the choice depends on the budget one has at their disposal and personal preferences.
Does it sound like something you, too, are interested in? If so, here’s more on some of the best energy-efficient upgrades for your San Diego home.
Upgrading Appliances
Consider purchasing a high-efficiency clothes washer and dryer if you haven’t already done so. They use up to 20% less water and around 50% less energy than their older counterparts. Another suggestion is to replace your refrigerator with a high-efficiency model that uses less energy than standard models.
It’s also a good idea to replace an old water heater with a new tankless water heater that can work on demand. A tankless water heater turns itself off when water isn’t being used, so you don’t have to worry about wasting energy.
While on the topic of water heaters, you might want to take a closer look at your own and inspect it thoroughly. Doing this will help you ensure that there’s nothing that’s broken or malfunctioning or your water heater drain valve isn’t leaking. The earlier you notice any possible issues, the faster you can fix them and avoid more significant problems in the future.
Replacing Old Air Conditioners
An air conditioner is one of the most expensive utilities in any home, and it’s also one of the most energy-consuming appliances. If you want to save some money on your bills and reduce your carbon footprint at the same time, consider investing in a more efficient air conditioner.
You can either purchase a new air conditioner or get a replacement for your old one. New models are typically more efficient than the old ones, and they come with additional features, such as timers, remote controls, and multiple fan speeds that help you get better results without having to turn the unit on for longer hours.
Installing LED Light Bulbs
Paying more attention to how you light up your house is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to reduce your carbon footprint and save some money on your bills. First off, you should replace all incandescent bulbs with LED light bulbs, which use up to 80% less energy than traditional bulbs and last up to 25 times longer.
Instead of only replacing your current lights with LED bulbs, you can add LED fixtures in commonly used areas such as hallways, stairwells, doorways, etc. In addition, you should replace all incandescent globe lights with fluorescent globe lights.
Insulating Windows and Doors
One of the most popular ways to improve your home’s energy efficiency is to replace single-pane windows and doors with double-pane versions that insulate better and reduce energy costs. You can even go for triple-pane versions that trap up most of the heat inside your home during cold days and keep out unwanted noise from outside.
Investing in Ceiling Fans
Ceiling fans can significantly cut down on your utility bills by up to 40%. In summer or hot climates, run ceiling fans counterclockwise (or downward) to cool the air. On the other hand, during winter, run them clockwise (upward motion) at a low speed to circulate heat that gathers near the ceiling.
Ceiling fans work exceptionally well in tandem with other upgrades such as insulation and solar panels because they allow you to achieve the maximum cooling effect without having to turn on air conditioning as often.
Buying Solar Panels
Installing solar panels is an excellent way to reduce your dependency on electricity from the grid because it allows you to harness solar power to generate your own energy. Besides, it is a perfect solution to reduce your carbon footprint.
San Diego has one of the fastest-growing solar installation industries in the country. While the installation might be quite expensive, it’s worth keeping in mind that solar panels, in the long run, are a much cheaper option than getting electricity from the grid.
What is more, you can also have your system routed back into the grid and supply your surplus power to the local utility provider in exchange for a monthly check. This way, your solar panels will not only save you money but might improve your budget as well.
Conclusion
There you have it — six of the most important upgrades for your San Diego home that will help you save money on your bills and reduce your carbon footprint at the same time. Most of these upgrades are easy to implement and can quickly pay for themselves in just a few years.
You can install LED light bulbs, upgrade your air conditioning system, or purchase a few ceiling fans. The decision of how many of them you should install in your home is up to you!
Some of these tips will cost you little to nothing to implement and can be done in your spare time, so there’s really no point in waiting any longer. Start turning your home into a more energy-efficient place today!