Are you ready to make your home drastically more energy efficient with your DIY skills? Look no further. Your home will reach new heights when you take on Stream Energy’s top DIY projects to increase your home’s energy efficiency. With these simple, easy, and quick projects, you and your home will be saving energy in no time.

Cushy Curtains

When the weather gets cold, a substantial amount of your home's heat can escape through the window panes; this is why it is important to have thick, cushy curtains. If you didn’t buy curtains lined with thermal lining, you can always do it yourself. Stream Energy suggests lining your curtains with fleece or PVC shower curtains. You can either sew it on or use duct tape if sewing isn’t your specialty; no one will see it since it will only be visible through the window when the curtains are closed. Just remember to open the curtains during the day so the sunlight can naturally heat your home.

Bubble Wrap Windows

Even with lined curtains, you can still lose precious heat during winter. If you have windows in your home that you don’t mind not looking out of for the winter, like a spare bedroom, cover the windows in bubble wrap. It only takes a few minutes, and the bubble wrap will act as a fantastic insulator for your home.

Close Off Rooms

Speaking of that spare bedroom, are you not using it this winter? If so, close it off from the rest of your house. If you aren’t planning on using it for a while, take a moment to close the vents and shut the door. Now there’s one extra room that you are no longer unnecessarily heating. Also, make sure that all closet doors remain closed. Your clothes may be a bit chilly in the morning, but it is better than heating up all that extra space. 

Seal Up Drafts

Whether it is freezing cold or boiling hot outside, drafts in your home need to be sealed. Stream Energy recommends using four tactics to seal off drafts, all of which you can do yourself. First, use silicone caulk around windows and doors outside your home. Second, place weather stripping on windows and doors inside your home. Third, fill your mail slot with a small towel, or cover it up. Fourth, cover animal doors when not being used. All four of these tricks will help keep your house sealed up tight so air can’t get in or out as easily, increasing your home’s energy efficiency. 

Water Heater Blanket

Do you have an older water heater that isn’t insulated or a water heater with insulation that has an R-value of less than 24? If so, you can create a snuggly blanket for your water heater. According to Energy.gov, this could save you 25–45 percent in standby heat loss and 7–16 percent in water heating costs. If you can’t tell what your tank’s R-value is, touch it. If it is warm to the touch, it needs more insulation. When you make the blanket, make sure to leave the top of the water heater clear so that it can adequately vent. 

Insulate Pipes

Just like your water heater, your pipes may need additional insulation. When building a new home or remodeling, it is wise to have your pipes insulated at the same time. However, if you need to DIY, it is relatively simple and could save you a considerable amount of energy while also protecting your pipes from freeze-related bursts. All you need to do is purchase a pipe sleeve, cut it to the correct length, place it on the pipe, secure it, and repeat for the rest of your pipes. 

Laundry Racks

Laundry dryers are responsible for a significant portion of the energy used in your home, so why not cut back on your use? You can build a personal laundry rack that fits easily into your home for a low cost. By air-drying clothes, you are saving energy and preventing wear and tear on your garments. While it may be unrealistic to air dry all of your laundry, it is possible to air dry some of it. Start by air drying one load a week and move on from there.

Power Strips

Stream Energy reports that most homes have a variety of phantom energy suckers. Phantom energy suckers are electronic devices that are constantly plugged in and continuously draining energy, despite being fully charged or not in use. It may be a tiny amount of electricity, but that amount adds up quickly over time. Some examples of energy suckers include computers, TVs, game consoles, microwaves, chargers, and treadmills. A home entertainment system alone can use $130 in energy per year while plugged in and not in use. The easiest way to solve this problem and do it yourself is by implementing power strips in your home. Hook your devices up to power strips, while making sure not to overload them, so you can easily turn all of the devices off at once when not actively using them. 

Energy-Saving Mode

There are a few devices in your home, like a computer, that have energy-saving modes built in. Program these devices to switch to "power-save" or "sleep" mode after a specific amount of time spent idle. Utilizing this device feature will reduce unnecessary electricity use. 

Be Energy Minded

Taking on DIY energy conservation projects is a great start to improving your home’s energy efficiency, but it’s important to take more concrete steps toward being energy minded. One final important step that you can take to make your home more energy efficient is to switch to Stream Energy. Stream Energy is an electricity and natural gas company that provides high-quality energy plans for energy-conservative individuals. Whether you are looking to save energy to reduce your cost of living or help the environment, Stream Energy has a plan that will suit your needs. The company’s unique green plan will have you excited about saving money and saving the environment. Don’t wait another day to become energy minded; research Stream Energy today.