With Toronto temperatures dipping into the single digits and your home’s heating system working harder than ever, it might be a great time to start thinking about energy efficiency. Improving the functioning of hard working furnaces means increased comfort for your family, better living standards and more money left in your pocket when it is time to pay the bills. If you are considering a renovating your Toronto home now or in the future, think smart and make informed decisions to reap all of these benefits.
Simple Renovations
Sometimes, the simplest renovations can increase comfort and provide added cost savings in your home. When installing lighting fixtures, add compact florescent light bulbs to decrease your electricity bills. When replacing appliances, look for energy-efficiency ratings to find the ones that will support your greener lifestyle and save you money over time. If your windows are drafty, make sure to caulk and seal them correctly or add attractive cellular shades to enhance performance. Install a programmable thermostat to reduce unnecessary usage of your HVAC system, and consider a home energy audit to find trouble areas you might not have otherwise noticed.
Major Renovations
If you are undergoing a major renovation in your Toronto home that involves replacing the HVAC system, make sure to purchase the right size unit for your home, and consider adding or enhancing ducts or even a multi-zone system to increase efficiency and reduce your heating bills. Some Toronto contractors might try to sell you on a larger sized, more expensive unit, but if it is not the right size for your house, the unit might simply cost more to operate and service and have a negative impact on your pocketbook.
Knowing what is behind your walls should also impact your Toronto reno budget. Air leakage throughout your home and especially in your walls can cause rooms to feel cold when temperatures drop and hot in the warmest months of summer. Adding spray foam insulation is a great way to remediate this problem and make your home more comfortable.
More Energy-Efficient Home Renovations
Other ways in which you can renovate your Toronto home to make it more energy-efficient include adding new doors and especially windows. New window options include Low-E, gas-filled and multi-paned glass as well as aluminum, vinyl and wood frames. Remember that it is not always necessary to buy the most expensive windows to realize the energy-efficient benefits you are searching for, so have a conversation with your Toronto general contractor about the pros and cons of each type before making your final decision.
Any of these improvements will save you money and make your home more comfortable, but perhaps one of the most important things that you can do is to renovate smart. At Alair Homes Toronto, we help our homeowners to make changes that enhance their comfort, save them money and work with their budgets. Our goal is complete customer satisfaction, and our local Toronto general contracting team delivers a better building experience that includes open lines of communication, exceptional workmanship and continuous adherence to our incredibly high building standards. Whether your renovations are large or small, call us and schedule your free, no obligation consultation and learn more about the many benefits that Alair Homes provides.