As a homeowner, there are so many renovations you may wish to do to make your house the dream home you always wanted.  However, some home improvements will be more beneficial over time, and potentially even help save you some money. If you’re looking for the best way to improve your home but save a little bit of money this year as well, here are 5 cost-saving upgrades to consider.

1. Programmable Thermostat

Many of us will imagine a fancy and expensive system being installed in our homes when someone says programmable thermostat, but it doesn’t have to be like this.

There are thermostats that you can program from your phone, but the idea here is that you can keep the temperature cooler in the winter or warmer in the summer when you aren’t in your home. Additionally, you can change the temperature at certain times of the day for when your family is more likely to be home instead of cooling or heating a home no one is using.

Programming the temperature can help save you money on your utility costs this year.

2. Caulking and Weather Stripping

Does it feel like there’s a draft anytime you sit beside a certain window in your home? The seal of the window may be broken so it’s allowing warm or cool air to escape and you’re paying more to keep your home at a comfortable temperature.

By making sure the caulking around the windows is up to date and is sealing the window you can also save on energy costs.

3. Smart Power Switches

Adding smart power switches into your home gives you the ability to control when appliances and lights are turned on. This means if you go out while it’s still daylight but will be home when it’s dark you can choose when to turn on the lights and therefore don’t have to leave the lights on the whole time.

Many power switches will have an app for smartphones so that you can control when they are turned on and off even when you aren’t home.

4. Low-flow Showerheads

Who doesn’t enjoy taking a long, hot shower? With traditional showerheads, this can lead to you paying for a lot of extra water. However, with a low-flow showerhead, you can still enjoy long showers while minimizing the amount of water you use in your home.

5. Energy Efficient Appliances

You may not be in the market to upgrade all your appliances right now, but if you’re upgrading as you need to you may want to browse appliances that are energy efficient. By ensuring you have energy efficient appliances you will use less energy and you will notice it on your utility bills.

Making improvements to your home can really make it more enjoyable for homeowners – and save some money in the long run. As you’re going through the list of improvements you want to make to your home this year, make sure they are also more efficient and save you some money.

Contact ICD Insurance Today

While you’re working on ways to save on your utility bills, why not also see if you can save money on your home insurance as well? For a free quote, contact us today to speak to one of our brokers.