Energy-Saving Home Improvement Ideas

8 Energy-Saving Home Improvement Ideas

Here are eight home improvements to enhance your abode with sustainability and energy efficiency in mind.

1. Seal and Insulate

Air sealing and insulation may not transform a home’s aesthetics, but they’ll enhance indoor comfort and deliver energy savings. More than half of home energy use goes to space heating and cooling ^[1]. Creating a tighter building envelope with air sealing and insulation helps keep heat and cooled air from leaking out and moisture and outside temperatures from creeping in. This increased heating and cooling efficiency can cut home energy use by around 10%, delivering immediate savings for other home improvements ^[2].

Insulation and air sealing are cost-effective standalone improvements, but it’s also good practice to integrate them into a more comprehensive home project. Larger renovations are often an opportune time to add insulation, especially if key locations like walls or attics will be open to perform other work.

Homeowners have options for air sealing and insulating. Recaulking or weatherstripping windows and doorways is a low-cost, DIY option to boost efficiency. For greater energy savings, New Yorkers can install one of several air sealing, insulation, and window upgrade packages and receive at least $1,000 in incentives through the Comfort Home program.

Both renters and homeowners may qualify for low- or no-cost efficiency upgrades, including air sealing and insulation, following an energy assessment through the EmPower+ program.

Air sealing and insulation projects are also eligible for an Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) tax credit. Homeowners can claim a tax credit of up to 30% of the project, capped at $1,200 per year.

2. Upgrade Doors and Windows

Giving the exterior of your home a facelift can simultaneously enhance its curb appeal and energy efficiency. Doors and windows are among the leading culprits for energy loss in a home, making them a prime candidate for an upgrade.

Doors and windows benefit from insulation like the rest of the home. Single-pane glass doors, for instance, lose much more heat than models made of fiberglass, insulated wood, or composite materials. Older doors can experience significant air leakage as the weatherstripping around the threshold wears away. New, energy-efficient doors typically come with adjustable thresholds and sealing systems to minimize air leakage. Alternatively, adding a storm door could be a lower cost solution if the existing door is older but still in good condition.

When considering window replacements, designs with two or more panes of glass offer superior insulation. Keep an eye out for windows with low-emissivity coatings which can reduce energy loss by 30-50% ^[3]. To get the most efficiency out of existing windows, consider caulking, adding storm windows, or installing window films.

To compare the efficiency of doors and windows, take note of the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) rating. The NFRC label shows several measurements, including the U-factor and solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC). Lower numbers indicate greater efficiency for both.

Windows and doors must meet the ENERGY STAR Most Efficient criteria  to qualify for IRA tax credits in New York State. For windows, this means a U-factor of 0.20 or less and an SHGC at or above 0.20 (Northern Zone) or an SHGC at or below 0.40 (North-Central Zone), depending on where you live. Meanwhile, the requirements for doors vary based on the glazing level. You can find what zone you live in and the IRA eligibility requirements for doors and windows in your area using the ENERGY STAR Climate Zone Finder Tool .

IRA tax credits can cover 30% of the cost for new, energy-efficient exterior doors, capped at $250 per door and a total annual credit of $500. Meanwhile, efficient windows are eligible for an IRA tax credit of 30% of the cost, up to $600.

3. Let in the Light

Installing a skylight can brighten up the interior of the home with natural light – helping save on energy used for indoor lighting. When installed strategically, energy-efficient skylights can also boost a home’s heat retention.

Positioning a skylight on a south-facing slope will help with heating during winter without capturing as much direct sun in summer as flat skylights would. With any skylight orientation, adding shades or blinds is good practice to block excess solar heat on warmer days.

In terms of sizing, the Department of Energy recommends that skylights measure less than 5% of the room’s floor area if it has many windows, or up to 15% if there’s few windows ^[4]. To qualify for an IRA tax credit, skylights must meet the ENERGY STAR Most Efficient criteria with a U-factor of 0.40 or less and any SHGC (Northern Zone) or a U-factor of 0.43 or less and an SHGC at or below 0.23 (North-Central Zone). You can use the ENERGY STAR Climate Zone Finder Tool to determine which zone you live in. Qualifying skylights can receive an IRA tax credit of up to $600, or 30% of the project cost.

4. Up Your Water Heating Efficiency

Replacing an inefficient water heater with a heat pump water heater is one of the biggest opportunities to cut home energy costs. After space heating and cooling, water heating is usually the second largest energy hog, averaging nearly 20% of home’s energy consumption.

Heat pump water heaters run on electricity, and most are designed as hybrid systems comprising a water tank with both heat pump and electric-resistance components. The heat pump equipment transfers energy from the surrounding air rather than creating it, delivering advanced efficiency that pays dividends. Meanwhile, the electric-resistance elements ensure the system can keep up if there’s increased demand, such as extra hot showers when hosting overnight guests.

The dual system automatically alternates between heating methods to optimize efficiency and performance. Depending on the existing system type, expect to save $200-$550 annually on home energy costs with the superior efficiency of a heat pump water heater.

The upfront cost of a heat pump water heater is significantly offset by IRA tax credits and NYS Clean Heat rebates. IRA tax credits can cover up to $2,000, or 30% of the project cost, while NYS rebates deliver a discount of $700-$1,000, on average ^[5].

Learn More: All About Heat Pump Water Heaters

5. Cook the Cleaner and Greener Way

Remodeling your kitchen? Now is the time to upgrade your home cooking experience with an induction stove or cooktop.

The emission-free cooking technology offers superior energy efficiency and performance compared to gas and conventional electric stoves. For one, the induction process heats up the cookware itself, rather than the stove surface, improving safety and cooking time alongside energy savings. Besides faster cooking capabilities, induction offers more even heat distribution and precise temperature control with its various power settings.

Kitchen cleanup is also made easy with induction cooking. Barring a major spill, simply wipe down the flat, glass-ceramic surface between uses.

Learn More: The Buyer’s Guide to Induction Cooktops 

6. Conserve Water (And Energy) With Low-Flow Bathroom Fixtures

Between plumbing, retiling, and installing new fixtures, a bathroom renovation can quickly become a major project. Opting for low-flow faucets, showerheads, and toilets can help cut down on water and energy use alike.

The water consumption for bathroom fixtures is indicated by the flow rate, which is measured by gallons per minute (gpm). Aim for a flow rate under 2.0 gpm for showerheads and 1.5-0.5 for bathroom faucets ^[6]. Meanwhile, low-flow toilets use less than 1.28 gallons per flush.

Keep an eye out for WaterSense labeled products, which meet water efficiency specifications set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Insulation, air sealing, and skylights are other energy upgrades to consider as part of a bathroom remodel.

7. Convert to Clean Heating and Cooling

Many New York homes have historically relied on separate systems for heating in winter and keeping cool in summer. But heat pumps provide an all-in-one system for home heating and air-conditioning that runs more efficiently – and without the use of fossil fuels.

For space heating and cooling, there are two main types of heat pumps: air source heat pumps and ground source heat pumps. Ground source heat pumps involve drilling one or more boreholes to use the more consistent temperatures underground for heating and cooling. Meanwhile, air source heat pumps extract heat from the ambient air and transfer it in or out of the home to heat or cool, respectively.

Both types are ultra efficient, with ground source heat pumps delivering three times the efficiency of oil-fuel systems, while air source heat pumps reach up to 50% greater efficiency.

The emission-free technology is heating up on the U.S. market: heat pump sales surpassed gas furnaces by more than 400,000 in 2022 and by nearly 630,000 in 2023 ^[7]. Aside from the efficiency gains and emissions savings, heat pumps are adept at removing dust and allergens to improve indoor air quality. Depending on your home design and renovation plans, heat pumps can be integrated with ductwork or installed as individual units, known as ductless mini splits.

Both air source heat pumps and ground source heat pumps qualify for IRA tax credits and NYS Clean Heat rebates. For a whole home air source heat pump, IRA tax credits cover up to 30% of the cost, capped at $2,000 per year, while NYS Clean Heat rebates amount to $2,000-$3,000, on average.

IRA tax credits can offset 30% of the cost of a ground source heat pump system. Additionally, New Yorkers can claim a State tax credit of up to 25% of the cost, capped at $5,000, on top of NYS Clean Heat rebates averaging between $7,000-$9,000.

8. Harness the Power of the Sun

Powering your home with solar can reduce or even eliminate your electric bill. As more homes add electric vehicles, heat pumps, and other all-electric equipment, going solar becomes an increasingly valuable investment to offset energy costs and ensure reliable backup power when paired with battery storage.

Rooftop solar is the most common option, but homeowners may opt to install a ground-mounted system if the roof condition, orientation, or shading isn’t ideal for solar. New York State offers incentives and financing for going solar. Plus, home solar systems are eligible for an IRA tax credit of up to 30% of the project cost.

If onsite solar isn’t compatible for your property or home improvement budget, New Yorkers can tap into community solar to offset their electricity use with renewable energy produced in their region, typically at a discounted rate.