Interested in improving your home’s energy efficiency? This look at efficiency projects and their costs will help you find the ideal solution for your home.
Efficiency Projects
| Project | Price* | What You Need to Know | Photo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Add Green Energy Generation | $ $ $ $ | For the ultimate in energy efficiency, you can add solar panels or wind energy generation. The cost will be in the tens of thousands of dollars, but tax incentives will help, and over time you’ll see huge savings in electrical costs. |  |
| Replace Your HVAC System | $ $ $ $ | Replacing your HVAC system with a more energy-efficient model is a big and costly, but potentially effective step. An HVAC pro can counsel you on the best options for long-lasting efficiency. |  |
| Upgrade Your HVAC System | $ $ $ $ – $ $ $ $ – |
The cost will vary depending on what you already have installed, but two-stage systems and zoned HVAC can lower energy bills. |  |
| The single most effective energy efficiency upgrade you can make? Replace your HVAC filters regularly. Dirty filters make your system work that much harder at all hours of the day. | |||
| Hire an Energy Auditor | $ $ $ $ | At around $300 to $400, a detailed energy audit can identify many problem areas of your home. |  |
| Upgrade Insulation | $ $ $ $ | Costs will vary depending on specifics, but improving or replacing insulation can yield efficiency results. |  |
| Address the Small Stuff | $ $ $ $ | Caulking, weather-stripping, regularly replacing HVAC filters – small details can still make a difference in energy costs. |  |
| Find Energy Audit Pros | |||
* Energy audit costs range from $212 to $624 and average at $398 nationwide, according to HomeAdvisor’s True Cost Guide.
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