Where Is Your Home Using and Losing Energy?

When you think about efficiency upgrades, things like solar panels may come to mind first. And while those can be a great option, it’s worth taking a step back to first think more broadly about how your home uses and loses energy. Often, the smartest place to start is with the basics: identifying where air may be leaking, where insulation may be lacking and how well your windows are holding in comfort.

Focusing on these foundational fixes first can improve efficiency, boost comfort and lower costs – all while preparing your home to perform its best before you install those solar panels (or any other bigger upgrade). The key is knowing where to start with energy efficiency and choosing updates that make sense for your home and budget.

Why do energy-efficient home upgrades matter?

Your home uses energy every day to heat, cool and power the things you rely on. When energy escapes through drafts, thin insulation or outdated systems, your utility bills go up – and comfort goes down.

Energy-efficient home upgrades can help you:

Use less energy without changing your lifestyle
Keep your home warmer in winter and cooler in summer
Reduce wear and tear on heating and cooling systems
Save money on monthly energy bills

Here’s some good news: Many of the best energy saving improvements for homes don’t require major renovations.

Start small: First steps to consider to make your home energy efficient

Before tackling big projects, it’s smart to focus on low‑cost, high‑impact improvements. You can often start saving energy at home with these easy methods.

Seal air leaks

Small gaps around doors, windows and outlets can let a surprising amount of air in and out of your home. Sealing them (such as by caulking or weather stripping) helps keep your home’s air temperature regulated.

Common places to check:

Around windows and doors
Attics and basements
Electrical outlets on exterior walls
Where pipes or vents enter the home

Wondering when to caulk and when to weather strip?

Caulking creates a rigid, permanent seal and is great for filling gaps in exterior places, like where window trim meets your home's siding and where siding meets the foundation.
Choose weather stripping for movable components of your home, like where a door closes against the frame or in the tracks of sliding windows, as this method flexes and allows movement.

Weather stripping and caulking are affordable and can often be done in a weekend.

Upgrade lighting

Switching to LED light bulbs is one of the easiest energy upgrades you can make. LEDs use less energy and last much longer than traditional bulbs, while still providing options for how warm or cool of a color tone you want your space to be.

Benefits include:

Lower electricity use
Fewer replacements
Less heat from lighting

Then, move on to next-level upgrades

Once you’ve handled the basics, you may be ready for bigger updates. These improvements often cost a bit more upfront but can deliver long‑term enhanced efficiency – especially if you already need to replace aging parts of your home.

Improve insulation

Insulation slows down heat transfer, which helps your home stay comfortable year‑round. Many older homes don’t have enough insulation, especially in attics and crawl spaces.

Better insulation can:

Reduce heating and cooling costs
Make rooms feel more comfortable
Help your heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system work more efficiently

If you’re already planning a renovation, improving insulation at the same time can be a smart move.

Energy‑efficient windows

Outdated windows can let heat escape in winter and enter in summer, so replacing those that are old or single-pane is another smart energy‑efficient home upgrade you can make. If your windows are due for replacement, choosing energy‑efficient models can help improve insulation and comfort.

Look for windows designed to:

Reduce heat transfer
Limit drafts
Block extra sunlight in summer

Appliances that use less energy

If you’re replacing appliances, choosing energy‑efficient models can help lower electricity and water use and significantly reduce home energy bills.

Here are some appliances to prioritize:

Refrigerators
Washers and dryers
Dishwashers

Deciding where to start

Not sure where your home is losing energy? A is a simple way to get personalized recommendations. By answering a few questions about your home, you can see where energy may be slipping away and what updates could help the most.

If you want a deeper look, a licensed contractor or energy auditor can inspect your home in person. They may:

Test for air leaks
Check insulation levels
Review heating and cooling systems
Provide a prioritized list of upgrades

Using can help you find contractors familiar with energy-efficient products. Filter by the service you’re interested in or by those who perform in-person home energy audits.

You can make your energy-saving upgrades possible!

By choosing upgrades that make sense, maybe even as part of another home improvement update you're already working on, you can build a more comfortable home and start saving money.

Take next steps with Summit's flexible, affordable financing options, including our , and for our Milwaukee-area members, our . Apply quickly online, or you can always to go over your questions, options and goals!