The big-city housing crunch that has long since been a financial issue to many homeowners is made more of a burden with the economic turmoil that hit not only New York and the US but the entire world as well. Now, more than ever is the best time to be looking for effective ways to save money and one of the smartest moves is cutting back on the area which eats a good part of your monthly income and that is the energy bill of your NYC home. This article looks into great ideas to achieve better efficiency for your home which are practical whether you are in Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, Long Island, or Manhattan.

Here are top ideas in making just any home more energy efficient and lower monthly energy bills:

Lighting

Being one of the most basic of elements that makes a house livable, many lighting fixtures are needed to make just any room more ambient as well as functional. With lighting, saving energy can be carried through in many ways including:

. Maximize use of natural lighting and lessen the use of electricity during day time
. The replacement of current set of lighting fixtures with energy-efficient models that uses up less electricity for the same brightness given off
. Amplifying the effects of lights by using mirrors and other reflective items in the design of the room
. Making use of lighting controls that prevents unnecessary use of lights

Ensure Proper Sealing and Enough Insulation

Leaks are silent killers that prey on your heating and cooling without you knowing. This results to the escape of heat or cool that should be maintaining the comfort inside the house. And before you spot it, your bills have already ballooned. You can have a contractor inspect your house for possible leaks and remedies should be done as needed.

Making your HVAC systems work harder than they normally do results to lower operation costs and thus lower figure on the energy bill. Other than this benefit, a well insulated and sealed home promotes optimal indoor comfort as well as an increase in the overall value. But one pitfall that many homeowners fall into is believing that the only areas in the house needing insulation are the attic and exterior walls. To ensure enough insulation, extend your efforts to kneewalls, adjoining walls from one room to another, basement walls, floors, overhangs, and ceiling especially below unheated spaces.

Energy-Saving Appliances and Systems

Though the initial cost of buying energy efficient appliances may be huge, the products would sure prove more valuable than the original price they cost. With these models, the comfort and functionality that is enjoyed in the house can still be maintained and even be enhanced without much consuming much energy. When shopping, choose those labeled with Energy Star.

Use Renewable Energy

Using natural resources to power some functions in your home can be one of the best ways to achieve energy efficiency. Technological advancements have paved way to integrate the use of solar heat, wind, or geothermal energy to power homes. These are often stored and converted to electricity or utilized to heat liquid fuels or heat water.