According to research, the average American household can save an astounding 25% on utility bills by making their home more energy efficient. This amounts to as much as $2,200 in savings each year.

As one of the most important investments you can make as a homeowner, energy-efficient features can help you protect the environment, live more sustainably, increase your home’s resale value, and, of course, significantly lower bills.

We’ve created a guide to help you get started! Here are some features you should incorporate into your space for enhanced energy efficiency:

Low-E Glass Doors and Windows

Unlike regular glass, low-e (low emissivity) glass allows visible light to pass through but blocks harmful UV and IR waves. While your home lights up because of the visible light, it doesn’t heat up as the summer heat is reflected back. The outcome? Cooler interior spaces, resulting in lower electricity bills.

While low-e glass is a boon for hot summer months, it’s also a must-have during winter. The low-e coating reflects winter heat back inside, resulting in reduced loss of heat.

Over the past few years, the multipurpose and affordable glass has become a staple across Texas. We suggest replacing regular windows and doors with low-e glass alternatives to make your home more energy efficient.

Pinky’s Iron Doors’ low-e glass is budget-friendly, durable, and ultra-strong. Whether you’re looking for a pair of modern iron doors, black steel doors, or factory-style steel windows, make sure you use cutting-edge low-e glass to cut down on exorbitant cooling and heating bills.

Here’s a closer look at the benefits of low-e glass doors and windows:

Recommended Read:Conserving Energy with Iron Doors

Efficient Toilets and Showerheads

Installing low-flow showerheads and toilets is a great way to make your home more energy efficient. Toilets consume a whopping 30–40% of the total residential water supply. Opting for a modern toilet that uses 1.2 GPF (gallons per flush) can help you save a ton of water. Look into dual-flush toilets, vacuum-assisted toilets, and pressure-assisted toilets to maximize water saving.

In addition, we also recommend choosing a low-flow showerhead that’s designed to control the amount of water being used. As a rule of thumb, look for showerheads with a flow rate that’s less than 2.5 GPM (gallons per minute). You can choose from different options, including aerating and laminar-flow showerheads.

Ultimately, replacing wasteful toilets and showerheads with efficient alternatives will help you protect valuable drinking water resources and increase monthly savings. Greater efficiency also means fewer repairs in the long run.

LED Lights

LED lighting can reduce lighting costs by a whopping 90%. How? Well, in comparison to fluorescent lighting, LED lighting only consumes 30% of energy without affecting lumen output. In addition, while fluorescent lighting has a lifespan of 5,000 hours, LED lighting can last for over 50,000 hours, making it a clear winner in every aspect. If your home still features fluorescent lighting, you may want to opt out. Invest in high-quality LED lights to cut down on lighting costs.

We also recommend opting for factory-style steel windows to make the most of daylight. This will help you turn unnecessary lights off and utilize natural light. However, make sure you use low-e glass, as stated earlier. Forgoing this step will help you use less artificial lighting but it’ll also heat up your home, requiring you to crank up the air conditioning.

Energy Star Appliances

Over the years, Energy Star appliances have popularized across Texas. They can help you reduce your electricity bills and make your home more energy efficient. Start by looking into replacements for your washer, dryer, refrigerator, and dishwasher.

Opting for new Energy Star model appliances will help you cut the total amount of energy consumed by half. Once you’ve made these changes, we also suggest looking into making personal lifestyle changes to reduce your carbon footprint, protect the environment, and increase savings.

Solar Panels

According to research, installing solar panels can help you save up to $1,450 per year. Over time, these savings can add up to $10k–$30k over a span of 20 years. Texas has incredible solar energy potential—more so than any other state!

Make the most of the abundant sunshine by opting for roof solar panel installation. Make sure you look into the different types of solar power for your home, including grid connected without batteries, grid connected with batteries, and off grid.

In addition, get a good grasp on the types of solar panels and mounting systems. Make an informed decision that’s best for your home and unique needs.

About the Author

The author specializes in designing and manufacturing low-e glass doors for Pinky’s Iron Doors, including steel sliding doors, single iron doors, double iron doors, iron French doors, pocket steel doors, iron patio doors, iron entry doors, and steel front doors. They also create cutting-edge low-e glass custom iron doors and custom steel doors for clients across Texas.

Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this information, Pinky’s Iron Doors cannot be held responsible and/or liable for any errors or omissions. While we strive for accuracy, it is possible that the information on our site may contain errors and omissions. It is also possible articles or any form of written content written about Pinky’s Iron Doors on third party sites may contain errors and omissions. We disclaim any liability for any such errors and omissions. We ask for your assistance in advising Pinky’s Iron Doors of any discrepancies that you discover.