Easy ways to make an older home more energy efficient

Seal air leaks with caulk and weatherstripping

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Caulking and weatherstripping doors and windows are effective air-sealing techniques to cut heating and cooling costs by up to 20%. If you haven’t had an energy audit, take a walk through your home and look for cracks or gaps, however small. Use your hands to feel for incoming air. Learn more about how to air seal your home.

Schedule a free energy audit

Consider scheduling a free in-house energy assessment (valued at $180) through Duke Energy’s Home Energy House Call program. For customers in the Carolinas, Indiana and Kentucky who have owned their home for more than four months, this review is designed to help you learn how your home uses energy and how you can save on your monthly bills. For Duke Energy Florida customers, the program is called Home Energy Check. Learn more and check your eligibility here.

Upgrade to energy-efficient appliances and lighting

Consider upgrading appliances to ENERGY STAR models. One of the simplest upgrades is to install LED lightbulbs on your fixtures and lamps. They use 90% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs while lasting up to 25 times longer.

Keep air vents and radiators clear

Putting furniture or rugs in front or over air vents blocks airflow and forces your HVAC system to work harder to cool or heat your home, driving up your energy bill. Make sure vents are clear to help keep your heating and cooling system running efficiently.

Plant trees near your home

Planting trees in the right places can help to reduce your energy bill by providing shade in the summer and helping keep your house warmer in the winter. Learn more about what to consider when planting a tree.

Install foam gaskets behind outlet and switch plates on walls

Cooled or heated air that escapes means your home’s system has to work harder. Installing seals behind electric switches and outlets is an easy and affordable way to help keep heated or cooled air inside your home. Learn how you can do this as an easy DIY project.

Install smart thermostats

Control the temperature settings in your home with a programmable or smart thermostat. You can save as much as 10% a year on heating and cooling by turning your thermostat down for eight hours a day in the fall and winter; turn it up in the spring and summer.

But what can be done now to curb energy costs in our own homes?

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Before investing in big new systems, focus first on less costly upgrades, experts say. Sealing leaky ductwork or laying fiberglass insulation batting in your attic will improve your home’s comfort and trim energy bills immediately. It could also lower the needed capacity (and price) of larger energy-saving projects such as that new HVAC system or solar array that you’re considering. For homes in some climates, “envelope upgrades” can shave up to $3,700 off a heat pump installation, the Department of Energy says.

Once you’ve done everything you can to lighten your energy load right now, consider the long-term energy investments below. Read on for the intel you need to decide what’s right for your home and budget.

The type of heat pump system you buy will depend on how your HVAC system is designed. If you have central AC, your home already has ducts that a new, ducted air-source heat pump can use for cooling and heating.

If you don’t have ducts, opt for “mini-splits,” air handlers mounted on inside walls and connected by external piping to a unit housing a condenser, fan, and compressor. Installing one mini-split costs $3,000, on average, says HomeAdvisor, a home-services marketplace.

To ensure comfort, make sure the recommended heating and cooling capacity your installer recommends is based on a recognized method, such as the one found in the Air Conditioning Contractors of America’s “Manual J.” To save money, ask installers about seasonal promotions, manufacturer and installer rebates, and discounts for paying in cash. Compare loan terms from the contractor or manufacturer with those from other lenders.

If you’re spending a lot on a system, it should work well—and keep working. CR’s heat pump brand reliability ratings, below, are based on surveys of CR members about their experiences with 10,158 heat pumps purchased new between and . And for more, in-depth information about choosing a heat pump, check out CR’s heat pump buying guide.

They do have a hefty up-front cost. Most households need 11 kilowatts to cover their electricity needs, according to EnergySage, an alternative energy marketplace. After a 30 percent federal tax credit, the average cost to install a system of that capacity is $22,022. But over time, you can save tens of thousands of dollars on your energy bill. EnergySage estimates savings of $20,000 to $90,000 over 25 years. Plus, the market value of a home with solar panels could rise slightly due to the upgrade, a study by government researchers found.

Though leasing solar can in some cases require no money down and offer instant savings, it’s typically a worse long-term deal than buying, EnergySage maintains. That’s due in part to the interest costs and finance fees; you also may face payment increases. Because you don’t own the system, you also won’t get a tax credit. The study found no increase in home value from leased solar.

Not sure how large a system you need or can afford? Plug your address and average monthly electric bill into the calculators at Google Project Sunroof or EnergySage. You’ll see how big a system your home can handle, your break-even point, and potential savings.

Factor in a roof inspection plus the estimated cost to repair and replace roofing shingles that are more than 10 years old, says the roofing maker Owens Corning. Asphalt roofs and solar panels can last up to 30 years, so buying both new at the same time means you won’t have to remove and reinstall the panels to redo your roof, a potentially costly expense. If you have a homeowners association, check for restrictions on solar installations.

Solar marketplaces like EnergySage and SolarReviews are useful tools for comparison. EnergySage can show competing bids from solar companies for your situation without requesting your number. EnergySage and Solar Reviews also judge the quality of solar equipment. And both rate and show customer reviews of installers.

As you consider solar companies, you might see references to “price [or cost] per watt.” Like supermarket unit pricing, that figure can help you compare the relative price of bids. “But other characteristics of the project—equipment quality, warranty, installer reputation—are better indicators of overall value,” says Spencer Fields, director of insights at EnergySage.

Other Measures to Consider
Annual production: Proposals may show panel configurations with different estimates of production—from, say, 100 to 137 percent of your current needs. Excess power could be worthwhile if you plan to buy an electric car, for example. But don’t get a system that’s too big.

Power degradation: The best panels degrade at 0.25 percent of their original capacity per year, still producing around 92.5 percent of that capacity after 25 years, Fields says.

The installer’s bona fides: Look for several years of experience. Ask for proof of licensure and confirm certification by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners. Check for complaints with the Better Business Bureau.

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