Energy efficiency in the home provides numerous benefits to the homeowner, including driving down energy costs, increasing the property value and creating a cleaner, healthier living space.

Duke Energy offers a program where they come to your home and do an energy audit. The audit is free. in the audit, they identify specific things that y0u can do to make your home more energy efficient. We strongly recommend that you take advantage of this program.

In Addition, there are several steps you can take to boost your home’s overall efficiency.

Air Filters. Make sure filters in all appliances throughout your home are cleaned and replaced regularly, which can significantly enhance their effectiveness. The Energy Department noted that replacing your air conditioner’s dirty filter can improve its efficiency by up to 15%.

Transportation. Decrease the amount of energy your family uses by relying more on energy-efficient forms of transportation. That means carpooling, taking the bike and using public transit whenever possible.

Reduce, reuse, recycle. You can also make major strides toward reducing your carbon footprint by reusing and recycling waste products and other unused items. More than just chucking plastics in the recycling bin, you can also donate worn clothing, compost food scraps and sell used electronic equipment to the right IT companies.

Solar Panels. Finally, you can invest in renewable energy like solar. Solar panels don’t generate any emissions and gather their power from the sun, and they can save you more than $1,300 a year on energy costs.

Ruth Schoenherr is a mortgage broker who will help you find home loans in the Clearwater, Palm Harbor, Largo, Safety Harbor, St Petersburg and Tampa Bay area. For more information, go to her web site at www.ClearwaterMortgageBroker.net or call at 727 447-2418.