Aside from making your house look charming, upgrading your house’s siding can increase your energy efficiency by ensuring that your home is protected from the elements, making it easy to temperature control. This follows the same reasoning for using insulation: keeping the weather outside rather than inside makes it easier and cheaper to regulate your home’s internal temperature.

As with all investments, you’ll have to sink the initial cost, but you’ll begin enjoying those sweet, sweet savings in no time at all!

Vinyl siding is the standard, so we won’t dwell on the pros and cons here—you’re likely already aware of them. However, here are some great energy efficient and eco-friendly alternatives to consider if you choose to upgrade your siding:

Insulated vinyl siding

This variety of insulation is very similar to standard vinyl siding, but with one key exception— it also contains an extra layer of foam insulation. Remember what we said earlier about insulation?

Insulated vinyl siding does not require as much maintenance as regular vinyl siding and will stand the test of time while making your home more temperature controlled. The downside is the hefty price tag.

Fiber-cement siding

Fiber-cement siding is made of natural materials like sand, clay, wood-pulp fibers, and cement. It is very durable, resistant to rot, flame retardant, and even termite proof!

This variety of siding is incredibly low maintenance and durable, but since it isn’t as insulated as insulated vinyl siding, it won’t drive down your bills as much. However, there’s still an argument to be made for investing in siding that could last for a very long time and therefore save you money!

Wood siding

Wood siding is an incredibly eco-friendly option compared to its competitors, as it can be reused and recycled for other purposes. If you want to use wood siding, make sure that the siding you choose was produced by a sustainable, managed forest association.

The main downside is maintenance, chiefly staining to keep that wood protected from the elements and looking sharp.

Check out the rest of our Bright Insights blog for more information on renewable energy and energy efficiency advice!

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Thinking of doing some home renovations? These six fixes will not only make your home more comfortable and visually appealing, they’ll significantly cut down on your electricity bill, too! The long-term savings are priceless.

Here are a few areas you can target during your next home improvement project to increase your home’s energy efficiency.

• Get a low flow toilet or showerhead. You can save a significant amount of money over time by installing these low flow fixtures. Naturally, prices will depend on where you live, but you can reasonably expect your new fixtures to pay for themselves in 10 years of use or less.

• Check your insulation. Improvements can help keep the temperature of your home regulated, which will keep your energy bill lower all year around.

• Install CFL bulbs in your home. These light bulbs are more energy efficient and last much longer than regular light bulbs. If you are preparing to take the plunge and buying new bulbs for one room, then you should consider buying more bulbs at a cheaper price and install them around your entire home to maximize your savings!

• Try a clean and smart dishwasher. These appliances use less hot water, and can even be programmed to run during off-peak hours when they will use cheaper electricity.

• Consider a programmable thermostat. They help you save a lot of money by tweaking the temperature in your home—you can even set it up to turn off while you are at work or sleeping and turn back on when you get home!

• Install ceiling fans. What you may not know is that ceiling fans can be used effectively during both the summer and the winter. During the winter, your fan should circulate clockwise to push warm air down and trap it low to the ground where you can feel it. In the summer, run it counterclockwise to create cool downward airflow!

Are you hungry for some further reading? Check out our Bright Insights blog post about 5 DIY projects that are sure to increase your home’s energy efficiency!

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