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Being a homeowner is both exciting and daunting at the same time. You’ve been given the keys, and then the responsibility sets in. Owning a home is more than just decorating and placing furniture in just the right spot. It’s about creating a space that is comfortable too. It’s about utility bills and maintaining this investment you’ve made. One way to do this is to create an energy-efficient home.
Why Should You Use an Energy Efficient Renovation Strategy?
An energy-efficient house will save you money, feel more comfortable, and offer a greater resale value down the road. Every home is different however, so how do you know what your home needs?
Things to Look for in an Energy-Inefficient Home
If you feel capable, you can audit your own home to check for energy inefficiencies with the following checklist. At Great Day Improvements, we understand that not everyone is comfortable making that decision. We’re happy to come discuss energy-efficiency opportunities throughout your home with you.
Windows and Doors
Can you feel a draft under a closed window or door?
On a windy day, run your hands around the edges. Can you feel the wind coming in? Or do the tissue test. Hold a tissue at the edge of the window or door, if it moves, you have a draft. A draft means the window or door isn’t sealed properly.
Does the space near the window or patio door heat up quickly when the sun shines through it? Is it uncomfortable to sit there on a sunny day?
Older glass in windows will heat up rooms causing inefficient heating and cooling throughout the home.
Can you hear the outside noise inside the home when the windows and doors are closed?
This is an indication of poorly insulated windows and doors.
HVAC
Are there rooms in the home that are colder or hotter than others?
This includes rooms not affected by the sunlight. In addition to poorly insulated windows, different temperatures spread throughout the home puts a strain on the HVAC system.
Insulation
If you live in a northern climate, does the snow melt off your roof faster than your neighbors?
If you live in a southern climate, do you get moisture or condensation on your walls or can you feel heat on the floor or walls on a hot day?
These are simple tests to gauge whether your insulation is starting to fade, and you should get an upgrade.
Energy-Efficient Strategies
Your house has been checked. You need to make some changes. Where do you start? There are a couple of things you can do on your own.
- Replace the seals on windows and doors.
- Replace light bulbs with energy-efficient bulbs.
- Replace a manual thermostat with a programmable thermostat.
You still have questions: you want to go forward with energy-efficient home renovations—lowering those utility bills and creating a more comfortable living space is important to you. At Great Day, we are here to help you accomplish those goals.
Energy-Efficient Windows and Doors
When making the decision to upgrade the windows, keep in mind that the most expensive isn’t necessarily the most efficient. What are you looking for in efficient windows and doors?
- Double or Triple pane glass
- Low-Emissivity (Low-E) coating reflects heat back into the room in colder months and bounces heat away from the window in the summer. In addition, this provides UV protection.
- Inert gas fills the space between the panes of glass that is filled with gas to improve insulation.
- Superior weatherstripping and seals around the edges of doors keeps air, weather, and pests out.
Smart Thermostats and HVAC Systems
This upgrade can be what you make of it.
Smart Thermostats
You can purchase a smart thermostat with your current HVAC system and be done with it. That gives you control over temperature settings, and that is still an upgrade from a manual thermostat. If you are away from your home for a period of time, it benefits the HVAC system to be set accordingly so that it does not come on while you are away.
Smart HVAC Systems
However, you can couple the smart thermostat with a smart HVAC system too. This increases the efficiency by allowing you to control where the heating/cooling throughout the home goes. This eliminates heating/cooling rooms that are unused and directs the heating/cooling to the populated rooms. Nothing goes to waste!
Insulation
Insulation is the behind-the-scenes, quietly effective way to do that, whether or not you’ve invested in windows, doors, and HVAC systems. Poor insulation will cause all that beautiful new heating/cooling to escape through the attic and/or basement walls. An upgrade to the insulation will keep the air you’ve worked so hard to obtain inside the home where it belongs.
Mistakes that Undermine Home Efficiency
Whether you’ve already made energy-efficient home renovations or searching for the best energy-saving home upgrades, you do not want to undo the efficiency that exists in the home by making some of the following mistakes.
Renovating Without Doing your Homework First
Understanding the renovation process can go a long way to helping you decide to make the energy-efficient upgrades. Should you hire an expert to do an energy audit? It’s hard to know what to fix. Great Day can answer any questions from budget to setting realistic expectations, whether you should hire someone for an energy audit, and everything in-between.
Ignoring Air Leaks
It’s the simplest fix to make and often the one that gets skipped the most. Check every window and every door. If air is escaping, seal it up and start saving money right away.
Overlooking HVAC Maintenance
Maintaining the HVAC system is another not-so-glamorous fix that often gets overlooked. Changing the filters and servicing the HVAC every year goes a long way to being energy efficient.
Cranking the Thermostat
It’s a myth that cranking the thermostat dramatically high or low will cool or heat the house faster after you’ve been away. If you get a programmable thermostat, you can set the temperature high to 78 degrees during the summer while you’re gone, then lower it before you return to a reasonable temperature. The key to efficiency is keeping it steady.
Why Homeowners Trust Great Day for Smarter Renovations
Great Day is the place to go to make your home more energy efficient. Don’t just take our word for it. We are grateful to the homeowners who have expressed their satisfaction with their experience at Great Day. They trusted us to create their project, and you can too! Visit us at Great Day Improvements and request your free quote. Discover why thousands of homeowners trust us for their energy-efficient renovations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most cost-effective energy-efficient home improvements?
Upgrades like new windows, insulated siding, and energy-efficient doors offer strong returns by cutting energy bills and increasing comfort. Great Day Improvements specializes in these high-impact, value-adding solutions.
Do energy-efficient renovations really lower utility costs?
Yes. Properly installed, high-efficiency products can significantly reduce heating and cooling expenses. Great Day Improvements offers USA-made windows and doors that seal in comfort and reduce energy waste.
Which energy-efficient upgrades add the most resale value?
Window replacements, upgraded exterior doors, and high-performance siding tend to increase home value the most. These renovations offer both immediate energy savings and long-term investment benefits.
Can I make my home more energy efficient without a full remodel?
Yes. Even targeted upgrades—like replacing drafty windows or improving insulation—can make a big difference. Great Day Improvements offers customized solutions that fit your home and your budget.
What should I prioritize first in an energy-efficient remodel?
Start with areas that impact heating and cooling—windows, doors, and siding. Great Day Improvements conducts personalized consultations to identify which improvements will make the biggest impact.
What makes Great Day Improvements a trusted choice for energy-efficient remodeling?
We own every step of the process—from design and manufacturing to installation—ensuring your upgrades are done right the first time. Our high-quality, energy-saving products are backed by best-in-class warranties and expert craftsmanship.
