Home Improvement Projects to Insulate Your House and Save on Energy Costs

Insulation can provide comfort, keeping your house warm in winter and cool in the summer. If you feel you are constantly using your heater or air conditioner, it may be time to do some home improvement projects to increase insulation.

1. Add Insulation to Walls

One guaranteed way to improve the comfort level in your home is to add insulation to your walls. Over time, the insulation in your walls can sink and affect the amount of outside air that can get inside your home. While insulating your walls is a costly project, you may be able to get a tax rebate for doing so. The government offers rebates for energy-efficient changes made to your home. And if you’re wasting a lot of money on heating and air conditioning, you’ll end up saving once your house is better insulated. 

2. New Windows 

Windows are the most common area for a draft to get inside your home. And unlike a door, there aren’t many options for limiting window draft. It’s much easier to use draft protection on a door than it is on a window. You can buy heavy curtains to try to keep cold air outside but curtains can only mitigate draft so much. Buying new energy-efficient glass will lower your electric bill significantly. You’ll notice the most savings if you currently only have single-pane windows. Just like adding insulation to your walls, you may get a tax rebate for upgrading windows. 

3. Plant Shrubs on Exterior of House

It’s not just changes made inside of the home that affect insulation. With a little smart landscaping, you can improve the insulation on the outside of your house as well. If you don’t have a lot of money to upgrade your home, landscaping is a great option to improve insulation on a low budget. Plant thick shrubs along the exterior of your home that will prevent strong winds from hitting your walls. Shrubs also help keep your home cooler in the summer as they block sunlight and keep your home shady. 

4. Upgrade Weatherstripping 

The weatherstripping on your door will wear down over time and by upgrading weatherstripping on an exterior door, you can improve your home insulation. If you’re handy, changing the weatherstripping on your exterior doors is an affordable and simple home project. You can buy weatherstripping in a variety of colors and styles to match the decor of your home. You might not even need to buy new weatherstripping if you tighten the screws at the bottom of your door. Tightening the screws may bring your weatherstripping closer to the door and floor and get rid of any draft. 

If you have the time and money to improve your home, increasing the insulation is a great place to start. Not all home improvement projects will save you money in the long run, but insulating your home most certainly will. 

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