Kitchen Remodeling Ideas for Energy Efficient Homes

Which part of your house do you spend most of your time? For most people especially mothers, the kitchen is their sanctuary. Cooking is an activity which almost everyone enjoys. But we should also consider that the kitchen is where we use most of our energy. Paying big electric and gas bills can be forcing you and your family to skimp of more elaborate meals and reducing the time and enjoyment you get out of preparing these meals. Appliances, improperly insulated walls, older less efficient windows and leaking HVAC ductwork all add to the higher energy costs. It may be time for you to do some kitchen remodeling to make your favorite room more energy efficient.

Newer “green building materials” have come a long way in the last ten years. Rising energy costs and reducing our carbon footprint have been topics of discussion since 1999. Government subsidies and energy star rebates have been in place in most states since 2001. The time to consider making your home more energy efficient is now before all of this government assistance disappears. The kitchen is the room in most houses responsible for most of our water and electricity usage. If you want to remodel your kitchen and make it more energy efficient, here are some things that might help stimulate ideas.

• Compact fluorescent lights bulbs use 75% less energy than standard incandescent bulbs.
• Upgrading your 20 year old Refrigerator to a new Energy Star appliance can save the average family more than $500.00 over a 5 year periods…Consider changing the Dishwasher and save more.
• Sealing and using the proper insulation around your windows, doors, floors and air flow systems by a skilled contractor can save up to 20% on the average homes heating and cooling costs in the United States.

Addressing these are only a few areas that most homeowners will benefit from lower energy costs.  The best way to tackle the energy issue is to invite a qualified local contractor to your home to conduct a home energy audit. Many today are equipped with an infrared camera and the right diagnostic tools to help you understand the impact your current heating and cooling system is having on your energy bill and our environment. With that knowledge he or she can offer a few kitchen remodel ideas in your Yardley  home that can help you control your energy costs while making your kitchen more comfortable to work in. When you are done with the kitchen, move onto some of the other areas of your home that consume energy. 

Hot water heaters and air ventilation systems are two great places to begin. Ask your kitchen and bath remodeler [in Newton PA]  if they are qualified to work on the HVAC equipment or can recommend someone who can evaluate these systems. It is best to seek out a home remodeling company in Bucks County  that has a network of specialists they can call on for plumbing and HVAC. To create energy efficient homes in Central Bucks , it is best to have a holistic view of your energy usage.  When considering kitchen remodeling in Pennington NJ  it is important to be aware of New Jersey’s Clean Energy program as it focuses most of the consumer incentives on renewable energies like wind, biopower, solar and geothermal upgrades made to a home.