My energy efficiency improvement project began in the middle of the summer this year. This was when I decided to take several steps in making my home more efficient in terms of heating and cooling. Several factors like, the increased cost of oil, the struggling economy and rising energy costs, all influenced my decision. I also wanted to do my part, although a minor one, in helping the environment. I made three improvements to my home, and they have all helped in their own way. I had my home re-insulated with expansion foam, I replaced all of my standard incandescent light bulbs with CFL bulbs and I purchased an Infrared Heater.

The decision to insulate my home with expansion foam was perhaps the largest undertaking of my efficiency project, but it also gave me some of the biggest returns. My home was built some time ago, and as a result, the insulation was not performing up to the standards of today. After researching the benefits of Expansion Foam Insulation, I decided this was the best solution for my home. I hired a company who inspected my home, and determined the spots that needed the extra insulation. It was installed by drilling small holes into the outside walls of my home and pumping in the foam into the gaps. The foam then expanded in the space, filling in all the trouble areas. While this was occurring, other workers were on the inside making sure the insulation was being installed correctly. I live in a 2 story home, with an unfinished basement, and it did take quite a lot of Insulating Foam to complete the process, but it was definitely worth it. After the installation I noticed an instant improvement in my home’s ability to maintain a desired temperature. This has helped me to save money on my heating/cooling bills because I am not wasting money on losses of energy that the previous insulation had allowed for.

The second step in my efficiency improvement project was replacing all of my standard incandescent light bulbs with Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs). The CFLs consume much less energy than standard bulbs, and also have a much longer lifetime. The great thing was how affordable the lights where, and that no extra installation steps were required. The lights fitted directly into the existing fixtures, and began saving me money instantly. Implementing the CFLs will help me save approximately 20-30 dollars in electricity costs during each bulb’s lifetime of use.

The final addition to my home was the purchase of an EdenPure Infrared Heater. The extensive research I did online looking for an affordable way to help lower my heating bills this winter led me to this product. Infrared Heaters are much more energy efficient than standard electric coil heaters, and they also heat the surrounding area more effectively. I was able to save money on my heating bills by turning my furnace’s thermostat down, and allowing the Infrared Heater to handle a share of its work. An Infrared Heater is also much safer, and provides a warm soothing form of heat that my family and I love.

After implementing these 3 simple improvements, my home’s energy efficiency has definitely increased. My home’s heating and cooling bills began to lower, and I did not have to sacrifice any of my home’s comfort for it either. Although there are many other things that you could do to help, these 3 basic solutions are an easy way to get you started on the right path.