Smart home energy upgrades pay for themselves in money saved on utility bills. Some of the most important energy improvement opportunities for your home may be the least obvious.

Before you invest in major improvements, request an at-home consultation with our team and visit the Green Living Toolkit to learn the options for doing a home energy assessment, including accessing Florida Power and Light’s Energy Manager and In-home Energy Survey, an emissions calculator to measure your energy impact, and much more.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Home Energy Yardstick also provides a simple assessment of your home's annual energy use compared to similar homes.

Air conditioning is the largest consumer of energy in Florida households. Heating and cooling escapes most homes through leaks in outer walls, floors, ceilings, doors, and windows.

Use caulk, weather stripping, gaskets, insulation, and door sweeps to seal air leaks around your home, reducing energy loss and lowering your bill. Utilize an infrared thermometer or thermal camera to detect areas where heat is entering your home, allowing you to target specific areas for improvement.

According to the federal ENERGY STAR program, you can save up to 10 percent on your annual energy bills when you seal leaks and have adequate insulation added by a skilled contractor. Though a contractor is required for some work, many projects simply require the right tools and little training.

Now that you've learned about energy-saving opportunities and sealed up those leaks, it's time to take action. Learn how to give your home an energy tune-up, prioritize projects, and make the most of your energy-saving journey.

Start Small, Save Big

Don't feel overwhelmed by the list of potential projects. Begin with small, low-cost initiatives that can add up to make a big impact. Prioritize with the Energy Savings Calculator and Home Energy Savings Checklist (pdf). These tools will help you:

• Identify the most impactful projects for your home
• Prioritize tasks based on cost, complexity, and energy savings
• Create a customized plan tailored to your needs and budget

In Florida, cooling represents about 44 percent of our energy consumption. That's the largest use of energy in our homes. Fortunately, there are several things we can do to reduce the amount of energy used to keep our homes cool without sacrificing comfort.

From easy low-tech changes to investment-level upgrades, find more information with the ENERGY STAR Top 6 Tips to Stay Cool or take a deep dive with the ENERGY STAR Heating and Cooling Guide (pdf).

If you are ready to make a larger investment, consider a heat pump, which delivers both cooling and heating. Though the upfront cost may be higher, heat pumps are more energy efficient, durable, and environmentally friendly, offsetting the cost in the long run. Jump to our next step ("Get It!") to find incentives for installing heat pumps and other energy-efficient technologies

Some of the most impactful energy and water reducing improvements require investment in new appliances, insulation, windows, roofs, and other home systems. Consider cost-effective changes that will pay for themselves over time in lower energy bills.

Before you begin, check for local, state, federal, and utility rebates and incentives that pay for upgrades, provide low- or no-interest loans, or provide tax credits or rebates after installation, depending on eligibility.

• FPL Rebates and Incentives: FPL has several great programs to reduce energy bills and get incentives for efficient upgrades.
• Federal Tax Credits: These credits are available for the purchase and installation of many energy-efficient products.
  • Tax credits for up to 30 percent of the cost of certain home-efficiency improvements are now available.
  • Households can claim up to $1,200 in credits each year, with an additional credit of as much as $2,000 for electric heat pumps.
  • No income limits apply, but the upgrades must meet applicable ENERGY STAR requirements.
• Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency: This database organizes incentives, rebates, tax info, and more for any state, searchable by ZIP code.
• The Weatherization Assistance Program administered by Step Up Suncoast delivers energy-efficiency services to income-qualified households with the goal of reducing energy costs, improving energy efficiency in homes, and ensuring health and safety.
• My Safe FL Home provides eligible Florida homeowners Wind-mitigation Inspections, free of charge and with no obligation. After their inspection, eligible homeowners may apply for a grant to help fund specific home improvements recommended by the initial inspection.
• Rebuilding Together Greater Florida offers critical home repairs at no cost to qualified homeowners. Repairs include plumbing issues, HVAC concerns, improving insulation, increasing weatherization, improving indoor air quality, and more.
• Check out our Energy and Water Saving Factsheet for a list of Sarasota County support for utilities bills and home improvements!

• Visit the library catalog to reserve your kit today!
• Use our Energy Evaluation Worksheet to capture your savings opportunities in the Energy Audit section of the guide. Formulas embedded in the document will automatically calculate your results.
• Watch a Do-It-Yourself Energy and Water Audit Kit tutorial to see what comes in the kit and how to use the materials: