Make Your Home More Energy-Efficient

As costs rise, it’s more important than ever for many people to find ways to cut back on expenses. One place to do that is by making the home more energy-efficient. At Windows, Walls & More serving West Bloomfield, we have a few suggestions for home improvements that can help save money.

LED Lighting

If you switch your traditional incandescent lightbulbs to LED bulbs, you can typically use up to 90% less energy. Plus LED bulbs usually last much longer, so you’ll have to replace them less frequently.

Seal Leaks

If you have air leaks around your windows and doors, they can cause up to as much as 40% of your home energy costs for heating in the winter and cooling in the summer. If you seal the leaks, your indoor temps will be more stable, helping to decrease on energy bills.

Upgrade Your Insulation

A poorly insulated home costs more to heat and cool. Consider upgrading your insulation to help keep your indoor temperatures more stable. You could even take an extra step by selecting cellulose or sheep’s wool insulation to be more eco-friendly—plus they’re excellent insulators.

Upgrade Your Water Heater

Consider upgrading to a tankless water heater, which heats water on demand versus constantly. This style of water heating saves energy, potentially reducing your water-heating costs by up to 30%.

Update Your Landscaping

If you use native species in your landscaping, you’ll reduce the need for summertime watering and fertilization. Plus, you’ll be supporting local ecosystems while you surround your home in a low-maintenance landscape.

Collect Rainwater

Instead of summertime watering with home-use water, consider a rain barrel to collect water for outdoor irrigation. You’ll spend less on municipal water while keeping your garden and outdoor plants fed.

Upgrade to Insulating Window Fashions

For many homes (especially older ones), one of the biggest energy drains is windows. One way to protect your windows is by using window treatments that can also insulate. Hunter Douglas offers some excellent options that are stylish yet also protective, and there’s a chance your purchase can qualify for a government rebate (speak with your tax professional to be sure). Choices include:

• Duette® Honeycomb Shades. Duette Honeycomb shades offer a simple, sleek look for modern spaces, but also work well in traditional settings. The ultimate benefit, of course, is that they almost pay for themselves with the energy savings you’ll enjoy
• Applause® Honeycomb Shades. Unlike some other brands of cellular shades, Applause is created with a double cell, which offers increased insulation over regular single-cell construction.
• Sonnette™ Cellular Roller Shades. The new, round, sculptured construction of the Sonnette cellular roller shade is being called “the new shape of light.” These beautiful rolling cells gently diffuse sunlight throughout the room while creating a sense of privacy.

A More Energy-Efficient Home in West Bloomfield

Windows, Walls & More was established in 1977 and has become the leader in window treatments and window treatment motorization, as well as wallpaper, interior design and more. With a beautiful Hunter Douglas Gallery showroom in West Bloomfield, Windows, Walls & More serves West Bloomfield and the surrounding areas, including Franklin, Livonia, Birmingham, Farmington Hills, Bloomfield Hills, Commerce Township, Northville and Novi. Stop by our Hunter Douglas Gallery to see our many functional window covering displays. For more information, or to schedule your free in-store consultation, give us a call today at 248-661-3840.