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As winter approaches, many homeowners in Kansas City have noticed a rise in energy bills. On average, homeowners experience energy costs that are 13% to 19% higher during the winter months compared to the rest of the year. This situation has prompted many to prioritize energy efficiency, whether they are existing homeowners or those planning to build a custom home.
You've come to the right place if you belong to this group of forward-thinking people looking for home energy-saving ideas. We’ve discussed creating an energy-efficient custom home and energy-saving ideas for winter.
You can trust that our team at Dusty Rhodes Homes has shared the most up-to-date information because we have experience helping homeowners reduce winter heating costs in Kansas City and improve comfort. So, let’s dive in!
How Can I Make My Home Energy-Efficient In Winter In Kansas City?
Energy efficiency in winter is important. Having a more energy-efficient home design can help reduce winter energy bills in Kansas City. However, what winter home energy-saving tips in particular will most benefit you?
To help you answer this question, we’ve shared winter home energy-saving tips that can help you maximize savings and enjoy a more comfortable lifestyle at home.
Add A Programmable Thermostat
When considering how to keep your home warm and efficient in Kansas City during the winter, you shouldn’t disregard the idea of adding a programmable thermostat. With a modern programmable thermostat, you can adjust your comfort level and program it to personalized temperature schedules that align with your needs.
For example, in the winter when everyone in the home is sleeping or just before you come home from work, you can program the thermostat to raise the temperature and make it nice and toasty. Likewise, when the home is empty, you can program the thermostat to lower the temperature so that you’re not unnecessarily incurring high energy costs.
In addition, there are smart thermostats—which we can tell you more about—that learn your preferences and adjust the heating or cooling in your home automatically. This makes it even easier to manage your comfort and energy bills. Moreover, many programmable thermostats also offer features that allow them to be controlled by smartphones, so you can adjust your home's temperature no matter where you are.
Invest In High-Quality Insulation
It may seem pricey, but investing in high-quality insulation is often best. Insulation is the key to energy efficiency, especially during the winter. To ensure your home retains as much heat as possible, you need insulation to get the job done.
With high-quality insulation – which we use – you’re creating an effective barrier against cold air while ensuring warm air doesn’t escape. So, when renovating or building a custom home in Kansas City, you should choose insulation materials with high R-values. We can help you understand the different R-values and their ability or inability to resist heat transfer.
Additionally, we recommend using high-quality insulation on the walls, floors, attic, and even the basement if you plan to use that space often. There are different types of insulation and we can help you determine which is best for keeping your Kansas City home energy efficient.
Install Energy-Efficient Doors And Windows
One of the best energy-efficient upgrades for custom homes in Kansas City is installing doors and windows known to provide energy efficiency. You might not realize it, but windows and doors can be huge sources of heat loss in a home during the winter if they haven’t been designed with energy efficiency in mind.
Whether renovating or planning to build a custom home in Kansas City, choose double or triple-pane glass for windows and doors with low e-coatings and insulated frames. This will help maintain your home's interior warmth all winter and decrease energy bills.
You might also want to invest in energy-efficient exterior doors that feature materials like insulated cores and fiberglass to help prevent heat from escaping. When you work with our team at Dusty Rhodes Homes, we can help you select and install energy-efficient doors and windows that not only perform well but also look good doing it.
Add Energy Efficient Lighting
In the winter, the days are shorter, so you naturally rely on more artificial lighting to illuminate your home. Unfortunately, the more you use artificial lighting, the higher your energy bills are at month’s end. But there is a solution. You can switch to energy-efficient lighting solutions like LED bulbs, which are known to reduce electricity usage significantly. LED bulbs can shockingly use up to 75% less energy than traditional incandescent lighting options.
In addition, you should consider installing dimmer switches and motion sensor lights for areas like basements, garages, and closets where you could accidentally leave the lights on. These nifty features can shave quite a few bucks off your electricity bill, especially when combined with energy-efficient lighting.
Consider Passive Solar Design
One of the best energy-efficient home design tips we can give you is to work with a custom builder who can build your home with passive solar design in mind. Passive solar design maximizes natural sunlight and heat, reducing the need for artificial heating.
You can install features like overhangs, shades, and strategically place windows to improve heat absorption and distribution throughout your home. Additionally, by considering your home's orientation and the layout of each room, you can create a living space that naturally captures and distributes warmth, improving comfort and efficiency.
When you choose Dusty Rhodes Homes for your custom home build, we can help you with the layout and features.
Talk To Us At Dusty Rhodes Homes About Making Your Custom Home Energy Efficient For The Winter
Now you know how to make your home energy efficient in winter while renovating or building. We hope that the information we provided will help you reduce energy costs in winter and put more money back into your pocket.
If you are interested in the idea of a custom build in Kansas City and want energy efficiency to be a priority, you can speak with us at Dusty Rhodes Homes. We have decades of building experience designing and constructing custom homes that meet energy-efficient standards and can help you make your dream living situation a reality. Contact us here today to learn more about how we can help.
