Simple Weekend Projects That Can Lower a Household’s Energy Demand

Looking to cut your energy costs without hiring contractors?

Many homeowners think that energy demand can only be reduced with big investments and professional installations. But… many of the most impactful weekend projects that reduce energy waste can be completed in just one weekend!

These tasks don’t cost very much money, are easy to complete, and can lower how much energy your household consumes each month.

How Home Size Influences Energy Demand

Before jumping into what can be done to lower energy demand around the house, it’s worth understanding why some homes use more energy than others.

Remember, homes that have more sq footage will require more energy to function.

Bigger houses have more space that needs heated, cooled and lit. Per the University of Michigan, just doubling the size of a home from 1,000 sq ft to 3,000 sq ft increases the electricity needed by double.

Obviously.

More square footage equals more running of the HVAC system, lights being on in more rooms at once, and more appliances distributed across the home. Understanding how home size influences energy demand can help homeowners make long-term decisions to better control your energy usage costs.

Luckily…

No matter the size of a home, there are simple weekend projects that can help homeowners reduce energy demand. None of these projects listed require hiring an electrician or thousands of dollars in renovations.

Ready to learn what they are?

Weekend Projects That Reduce Energy Demand

Install Air Leak Prevention Around Doors And Windows

This is by far the simplest task to complete.

Here’s the reality: Air leaks introduce outside air into the home and let conditioned air escape through tiny openings. Essentially, the HVAC system has to work harder to heat/cool the space.

Installing weatherstripping and caulking are two of the easiest projects for homeowners to complete in less than a day. Per the U.S. Department of Energy, weatherstripping and caulking can pay for themselves after one year.

Pay attention:

• Exterior door frames
• Window frames
• Pipe/Wire openings
• Where the garage meets the home

Buy a tube of Caulk for $5. Pick up some weatherstripping for under $10. These inexpensive products can reduce monthly energy consumption quickly…especially for larger homes that have more surface area for leaks.

Add Insulation To The Attic

Heating and cooling a home accounts for a significant portion of monthly energy usage. To be exact, about 45% of energy used in a home goes to heating or cooling.

Yikes.

And if the attic is missing insulation, that’s money being lost.

Hot air rises. When warm air can’t be trapped by insulation in the attic, it leaves the home via the roof. During warmer months, that warm attic transfers heat to the rooms below.

Fortunately, adding insulation is a DIY project that can be completed over a weekend. Homeowners can purchase roll out batts or have blown in insulation installed. The goal is to reach the recommended home insulation value for the climate zone.

Bigger homes have more attic space which creates more area for heat to escape. Adding insulation to the attic can create a dramatic difference in monthly bills.

Swap Out Incandescent Light Bulbs For LEDs

Ready to have a project that takes less than 60 minutes?

Replacing incandescent light bulbs is one of the quickest ways to see results. Not only do LED light bulbs use less energy, but they also last longer.

Imagine this…

If a home has 25 light fixtures and they’re all running incandescent bulbs, energy costs are higher than they need to be. By simply switching all of the bulbs to LED, this project can be completed with a trip to the hardware store and another hour screwing in bulbs.

It doesn’t get much more simple than this project. What’s crazy is the amount of energy that can be saved by making this swap.

Install A Programmable Thermostat

The average homeowner heats and cools their residence while they’re not home.

Programmable thermostats help avoid this problem by auto-adjusting the temperature based on the time of day. Have it set to a lower temperature while everyone is at work. Adjust the temperature when the first person gets home from work. Let the system do the work.

Lower energy bills.

When managing the energy demands of a large home, this upgrade can make a huge difference. Many homes come with 2,000+ square feet of space to heat and cool. If no one is home to enjoy it, that’s money being thrown away!

Take it a step further by installing a “smart” thermostat. These thermostats connect to Wi-Fi and learn the patterns of the home. Once installed, energy usage continues to drop.

Insulate And Seal Ductwork

This is a project that most people don’t know about.

Did you know duct leaks can waste 20-30% of air moving through the system? If the ducts aren’t sealed, money is going out every time the HVAC system turns on.

Inspect the ductwork that’s accessible (basement, attic and crawl spaces) and seal any gaps with mastic sealant or metal backed tape.

Remember:

Use metal tape. Normal duct tape isn’t very effective at insulating ductwork.

A majority of these projects focus on sealing the home and preventing loss of heated/cooled air. When air doesn’t have to travel as far, the HVAC system doesn’t work as hard and homeowners save money.

Weekend Projects That Reduce Energy Use: Final Thoughts

Reducing the amount of energy a home demands doesn’t need to be difficult or costly. The projects listed above are proven to help homeowners reduce their energy waste and each can be done in a weekend.

Here’s a quick review:

• Install Caulk and weatherstripping around doors and windows to prevent air leaks.
• Insulate the attic to prevent heat loss.
• Swap out old bulbs for LEDs.
• Install a programmable thermostat.
• Seal and insulate ductwork.

Since bigger homes have a larger home size energy impact, larger homes stand to benefit more from these weekend projects. However, smaller homes can still see a meaningful impact on the energy bill.

The best part about these projects? Each of them can be completed in a single weekend. Choose one to start and work from there. The savings will start to build and speak for themselves.