37% of Homeowners Are Renovating With This Cost Saver in Mind

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs.

Domino Reno: Before + Afters, DIYs, and Advice From the Pros

Subscribe now to get our newsletter in your inbox.

By signing up, you confirm you are 16+, will receive newsletters and promotional content and agree to ourTerms of Useand acknowledge the data practices in ourPrivacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.

Raise your hand if you cross your fingers every time your utility statement lands in your inbox or mailbox. In that moment, we try to recall every light we flipped on and every shower we took, convincing ourselves it can’t be that bad. Then the disappointment sinks in—I spent how much on electricity? Honestly, we’re tired of being bummed out by our bill, and so many of us are taking preventative measures.

According to a new survey from Modernize Home Services, a platform that connects people with local contractors and helps them plan (and budget for) their next big project, 37 percent of homeowners are tackling renovations that’ll save them money on their monthly utility bills. Before you jump to “But I can’t afford a $25,000 solar thermal heat pump like Adrian Grenier,” note that most of these renovators (72 percent) plan to allocate $5,000 or less to their upcoming projects. So in that spirit, here are some tricks and tweaks that’ll spare your bank account.

Since the Google Nest thermostat’s launch, the sleek round display (it only costs $130) has saved users 41 billion kilowatt-hours of energy. That translates to lower energy bills, saving most people around $131 to $145 a year, based on typical energy prices. How? It gets a read on your routine and then adjusts your space’s temperature accordingly—no thinking required when you leave the house.

When shopping for fresh appliances, opt for a dishwasher with an Energy Star label, which means it’ll use less water and power. Psst: our overall favorite is Bosch’s 300 Series DLX dishwasher (did we mention it’s under $1,000?).

Making sure your home is airtight is a fab way to not waste energy, so start small by adding doors to the front of your fireplace or a proper chimney flap that opens and closes. This way you don’t have a gaping hole letting cool air up and out.

A simple way to cut back on artificial lighting during the day is installing large picture windows that let in tons of sunshine. Take it from a building designed by Turett Collaborative—it consumes about 75 percent less energy than the average new project.

Lydia Geisel has been on the editorial team at Domino since 2017. Today, she writes and edits home and renovation stories, including house tours, before and afters, and DIYs, and leads our design news coverage. She lives in New York City.

Learn more about Domino.comEditorial Standards