Turn an Old House Into an Efficient House
✉️ Want to forward this article? Click here.
On Saturday, the DC Preservation League invited James Carroll from EcoHouse to give Capitol Hill homeowners some tips on how to make their old DC homes more energy efficient.
Basically, Carroll outlined the steps that inspectors go through when auditing a home in the District. Free energy audits are available to any single-family homeowner in DC, and EcoHouse, a residential energy efficiency company, also performs longer audits for a fee.
Here are some of the tips that Carroll shared:
- With the help of an inspector, diagnose all sources of air leakage in and out of the house. This includes both improperly sealed doors and windows letting “bad” air in, and also punctured ducts leaking “good” air into an attic or basement.
- Outdated appliances can be a huge energy suck. Refrigerator efficiency, for example, has greatly improved over the past few decades and changing out an old fridge for a newer model is probably worth the expense, as fridges are the biggest use of electricity in most homes (unless you have a hot tub).
- Look for Energy Star-rated appliances whenever possible.
- Make sure you are using a programmable thermostat to keep energy usage low during the day when the house is empty.
- Consider using a “Smart Strip” power strip for large electronics. They are able to completely turn off electronics that are not in use, rather than drawing an idle current.
- Change your light bulbs to either LED or Compact Flourescent Lighting (CFL). According to Carroll, LEDs are the best.
- Change your air filter regularly to keep the systems working optimally.
Similar Posts:
- One of One: Going Green With Your Friends
- The Various Ways That DC Makes it Cheaper to Green Your Home
See other articles related to: dc preservation league, ecohouse, energy efficient, green real estate, green real estate dc
This article originally published at https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/turn_an_old_house_into_an_efficient_house/5641.
Most Popular... This Week • Last 30 Days • Ever
Estate taxes, also known as inheritance taxes or death duties, are taxes imposed on t... read »
In this article, UrbanTurf will explore the considerations and steps involved in buyi... read »
The most expensive home to sell in the DC region in years closed on Halloween for an ... read »
The application may signal movement on the massive mixed-use project.... read »
Washingtonian is reporting that the national bookstore chain will open its doors the ... read »
- What Are Estate Taxes and How Do They Work?
- How An Unmarried Couple Buys a Home Together
- The Cliffs in McLean Sells For $25.5 Million, Highest Home Sale In DC Area In Years
- Raze Application Filed For Site Of 900-Unit Development, Food Hall Along Anacostia River
- Barnes and Noble Returns To Georgetown Next Week
DC Real Estate Guides
Short guides to navigating the DC-area real estate market
We've collected all our helpful guides for buying, selling and renting in and around Washington, DC in one place. Start browsing below!
First-Timer Primers
Intro guides for first-time home buyers
Unique Spaces
Awesome and unusual real estate from across the DC Metro