While many home improvements have a lengthy process, there are plenty of upgrades you can accomplish as weekend projects. One way to spend a weekend improving your home is to add upgrades and changes that will help lower your utility costs. Here are some ideas for weekend projects to make your home more efficient and cost-effective:
Adding a programmable smart thermostat is an excellent weekend project that can save you money and make your home more energy efficient. With a smart thermostat, you can set specific schedules for heating and cooling. Many of them have features to adjust the temperature automatically based on activity. Smart thermostats can help you save energy and are simple and quick to install.
Home appliances can be a major source of energy waste, and luckily, replacing them can be accomplished in a single weekend project. Modern refrigerators, dishwashers, and ovens have energy-saving features to help you keep your costs down and your home more efficient. Even smaller appliances like coffee makers or microwaves can be swapped out for energy-saving alternatives. For fixtures, consider replacing your sink faucets with low-flow options to save water.
Even modern homes can lose significant amounts of energy through leaky windows. If you want to keep your heating and cooling bills down, touching up the weather seals on your windows can help you ensure your HVAC system is performing at maximum efficiency. You can purchase caulk and other simple-to-use products at your local home improvement store or online to solve and prevent leaks.
These are just a few ways to help your home be more energy-efficient. If you’re interested in a more cost-effective and eco-friendly home, consider these home improvement ideas for your next weekend project.
Susan Shuxian Hu has been a dedicated realtor serving in Silicon Valley since 2010. With great passion, outstanding negotiation skills and due diligence, she has helped many buyers and sellers in their real estate needs. Living in West San Jose for more than 14 years, she has broad knowledge in Cupertino, West San Jose, Los Altos and Saratoga. She has enormous patience working with buyers and never tired of showing all possible properties that may fit client’s needs. Clients appreciate her best service to their satisfaction. She specialized in luxurious real estate purchase in Los Altos, Cupertino, Saratoga and Palo Alto. She also helped friend and past client’s referral working in San Francisco, Foster City and far reached Bay Area.
Susan Shuxian Hu was graduated in East China Normal University in Shanghai with bachelor and master degrees in Bio science. She came to US in 1989 and earned her Ph.D. in Molecular Genetics in Texas A&M University in 1996. After one year of postdoc in Southern Florida University in Tampa, she moved back to Orlando with her family and started working in Lucent Technologies. In 2002, Susan moved to California, Silicon Valley joined a start-up company. Since then she worked in high tech Corporation till 2009. Driven by her dream job pursuing, she found her passion working in sales by helping people in real estate after one year of education in De Anza business and real estate law study. Since then, she has been serving many people in Bay Area for their real estate needs.
With bilingual advantage, she has been actively working with Chinese immigrants as well as local engineers and residents. With rich high tech background and connection with Chinese community, Susan has served in luxurious real estate in last a couple of years.