subject: Home Improvement Measures: Energy-conserving & Money-saving [print this page] The increasing energy demands have led to the extensive use of energy resources, which is continuously depleting. In case this trend continues, there will not be much of energy resource left for us in future. Understanding the importance of energy conservation, people are taking several initiatives towards saving energy. Among the various measures adopted, home insulation is one of the important measures that can assist in saving energy.
Home insulation creates an effective barrier that efficiently resists heat loss. Due to this, the house remains cool in summer and warm in winter. As a result, there is less use of cooling and heating devices to maintain optimum temperature within the house. Consequently, people can save substantial amount of energy and money at the same time.
There are different types of home insulation material and modes available. One must wisely choose the insulation option that meets the local energy codes. In order to know about the amount of insulation required, people can get an energy audit done by a reputed builder. Accordingly, people can choose the insulation material to make their home energy efficient. Cellulose, mineral (rock or slag) wool and fiberglass insulation are most commonly used. These material are available in different forms, such as loose-fill or blown-in, and blanket (batts and rolls). Depending upon the insulation required and the budget, people can choose amongst these options.
Apart from home insulation, there are other measures which can be taken to make the house more energy efficient. People can opt for weatherization or install energy efficient appliances like ENERGY STAR dishwashers and refrigerators. In addition, they can even choose a variety of ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs for their homes, instead of incandescent light bulb.
In order to support and encourage people to conserve energy, government offers various financial aids, like tax credits and rebates. One such initiative is the PUD Rebate Snohomish, which offers fiscal incentives to the residents for choosing energy-saving home improvement measures. The fiscal incentives offered by PUD Rebate Snohomish are in the form of tax credits, discounts on products or services, and even cash. Moreover, there are other financial aids available as well, which help in offsetting the overall cost of the home improvement measures taken by responsible citizens.
