7 Reasons to Have an Energy Efficient Home

In recent years, people have become more aware of the many benefits that come with having an energy efficient home. Those who already own a home are looking for ways to make improvements on their current houses, and those that are looking to buy one are taking the energy efficiency of a new build very seriously. 

Many of the energy improvements are fairly simple, yet their efficiency is undeniable. Something as small as installing blinds can reduce the heat exchange between the house and the outside manifold.

There are many reasons for desire to be energy efficient, whether it is for personal gain, saving the environment, or a combination of both. Let’s take a closer look at some of these reasons. 

The Creation Of Jobs

A benefit that very few people will have considered is the fact that as more and more consumers are embracing energy efficiency, new jobs will be created. Manufacturers will be looking for new staff to fill the expanding roles in this industry. 

Going Green

Another fairly obvious benefit is how the energy efficient homes impact the environment and energy supplies left for future generations. The less energy we need, the less of it will be created, leaving more available for the future. 

Additionally, less emissions will be released from our houses into the atmosphere which will reduce the global warming. 

Comfort

If your home is well insulated, it will remain warm in the winter and cool in the summer, which will do a better job at increasing your comfort levels. Not to mention the fact that you will be feeling more comfortable about your energy bills when you receive them! 

Money Saving

Arguably, the most common reason for wanting to be energy efficient is to save money. Even if upgrading your home will cost you money initially, in the long run, it is likely that it will cut a sizable wedge off your energy bills every year.

Reducing Contaminants

Routine maintenance on your home when it comes to energy efficiency is greatly advised. Anything from clogged air ducts to a dirty filter will reduce the air flow around your house. Annual duct checks and cleaning will increase the air quality in your home and reduce the risk of any allergens, bacteria, and mould. If left, then these contaminants could cause long term health problems. 

Increase The Value Of Your Home

Homebuyers are becoming increasingly concerned with energy costs and the efficiency of homes that they are looking to buy. By making some small upgrades to improve the efficiency of your home, you could increase its value for future buyers. 

Convenience

A step that could be taken to improve your home is making the switch from standard to LED light bulbs. These will not only reduce your energy usage, but will also reduce the amount of times that you will need to change the bulb. LED bulbs last a lot longer than regular bulbs. 

Conclusion

As you can see, there are many reasons why you should think about improving the energy efficiency of your home. If you want to know more, we highly recommend that you check out the infographic by blinds-2go.co.uk, that is laden with information regarding the benefits of energy efficiency.

Autumn Adventures in Yellowstone

Montana’s national parks offer the perfect outdoor adventure this fall

Montana is a place of unspoiled beauty year-round with views that are vast and vibrant, but paired with colorful bursts of foliage, fall in the Big Sky state is something you have to experience. The yellow leaves of aspen trees shimmer in the cool breeze creating a stark contrast against their pale bark and the dark shadows of the surrounding mountains. Grazing mule deer raise their heads in unison from their peaceful meal as they hear the nearby bugling call of a bull elk to his herd. With the unforgettable sights and sounds of the season all around you, you’ll fall in love with Montana’s undiscovered season.

Uncovering Yellowstone
Outside the peak summer season, Montana’s national parks offer a variety of outdoor adventures without the crowds. In Uncovering Yellowstone, the newest Discover Your #MontanaMoment video episode, you’ll find a trip idea that combines the spirit of exploration with the unspoiled beauty of our national parks. Uncovering Yellowstonefollows a group of friends who, after years apart, reunite in Gardiner to exploreYellowstone National Park. From plentiful wildlife to hiking against the backdrop of snow-capped mountains, the group revels in the autumnal beauty of Montana, noting its “hard not to be awestruck” by the surrounding landscape. Watch the episode on VISITMT.COM.

Wildlife Viewing
Fall is the perfect season to admire Montana’s wildlife at national parks, state parks and other public lands. Home to many species of birds and mammals, Yellowstone National Park is a great place to wildlife watch. Listen for the bugle of an elk, watch bison roam and be on the lookout for black bears as this is the prime season to watch them gear up for hibernation. You’ll also find plentiful wildlife to watch at Glacier National Park. Bring your binoculars to look for animals like bighorn sheep, mountain goats and moose.

Outdoor Adventure
With cooler temperatures and vibrant landscapes, Montana’s national parks are an ideal place to enjoy epic outdoor adventures this fall. Fill your itinerary with hiking, scenic drives, biking, and guided tours; all while enjoying the attractions of nearby towns. Gardiner is home to the original entrance to Yellowstone National Park, which is the only entrance that remains open to wheeled-vehicle use year-round.

Lodging
While Yellowstone National Park and Glacier National Park can be your basecamp for outdoor adventure, pairing the perfect accommodations can help set the ambiance for your experience. If you’re looking for a rustic mountain escape like the friends inUncovering Yellowstone, a ranch like B Bar Ranch makes a cozy home away from home during your stay. From western lodges to charming log cabins, the perfect retreat is waiting in Montana.

During weddings at Dunrovin Ranch, Sterling and I escape by taking a little trip around Montana. Yesterday found me at the foot of the Highland Mountains where 52 summers ago I lived in a fire lookout as a US Forest Service employee. It gave me pause. I could not help but transport myself back to those summers. Never did I expect to see the 70 year old version of myself looking up from a landscape that I had come to know like the back of my hand and that left an indelible imprint on my heart and mind.

The Forest Service had wisely asked to me create a "viewshed" map of all that was visible from the lookout. It took me days to draw out the lines and color in those portions of the mountains and valleys that I could see from those that were hidden. The process cemented in me a thorough knowledge of all that lay at my feet and instilled in me a lifelong love of maps.

As I gazed at the lonely perch on the mountain, I could feel the tug of the tether that binds me to that young woman. Some of the tether's filaments are frayed, some entirely broken, some fade into ghost strings that evaporate into thin air. Others have solidified, petrified into granite-strong links that have supported me throughout time.

My days at Highland Lookout had been spend in reflection, anticipation, wonder, and yes, some fear. I was on the doorstep of becoming an adult. I had just graduated from high school and had yet to face any of life's challenges alone. Throughout the summer, my parents dutifully drove the nearly impassable road to the lookout to give me comfort, play endless rounds of three-handed pinochle after dark, and share home-cooked meals. The mountain was visible from their living room window, and every lightning storm found them watching with anxiety. Indeed, lightning struck the lookout often - but the ground wires held until the very last day of my second year when I was forced to abandon it after a strike had started a small fire. I put the fire out, hiked to the highway, hitchhiked into Butte, and reported it to the Forest Service. We went back up the next day to retrieve my things and close up for the season. I never returned to live there.

This place is a seminal part of my history. It taught me to trust myself, to be self reliant, to take risks, to enjoy my own company in total isolation, to love and know a vast landscape that scrolled across my mind during times of trouble. I am grateful to that young woman for choosing this place as her launching pad - however much of her lives in me still.

Suzanne Miller is the owner and operator of Dunrovin Ranch in Lolo, Montana

Discover Montana's Golden Season

Soak in the stunning sights of Montana on these fall hikes