As summer winds down and the temperatures begin to slowly drop, you may want to spend more time outdoors on your porch. But can you really kick back and relax knowing your porch is not as energy efficient as it could be? Make your home more comfortable and energy efficient by following these tips to go green on your porch:

Make These Simple Switches

Switch to energy efficient bulbs.

Many homeowners choose to leave their porch lights on at night for security purposes, but if you’re not using energy efficient light bulbs, you’re wasting a lot of energy. Switch to Energy Star certified LED light bulbs, which use about 20-25% of the energy used by traditional bulbs and last up to 25 times longer too.

Or consider switching to motion sensor light bulbs. This way, you won’t have to use power to keep your lights on all night, so you can save energy every time the sun goes down.

Use solar reflective paints.

Have you noticed fading or chips in your porch’s paint? If so, now is a great time to repaint the porch with a solar reflective paint. These paints reflect the sun’s heat so the porch does not get as hot—and the inside of your house doesn’t, either. This can help you cut back on the amount of energy you use to maintain a comfortable temperature in your home, plus, these paints come in a wide variety of colors, so you’ll have no problem finding one to fit your porch.

Stop These Bad Habits

Close the door.

Homeowners often leave the front or back door open while relaxing on the porch, but this is a big waste of energy. The hot or cool air from inside your home will escape while the door is open, meaning your heating and cooling system will have to work in overtime to maintain a comfortable temperature in your home. When you spend time on your porch, make sure you keep the door closed.

Tackle These Projects

Plant a tree.

Do you find yourself bringing a fan outside on your porch to cool down in the hot summer sun? Consider planting a tree or big shrubs to provide some shade for your porch. Not only will this keep you cool while you’re relaxing on your porch, but it will also help heat from making its way into your home.

Insulate your foundation.

Do you notice the floors of your porch are ice cold in the winter? This could be a sign that you need to insulate the foundation underneath your porch. Insulation can prevent the loss of hot or cool air, thus reducing the amount of energy you use to power your heating and cooling system. If you already have an insulated foundation but you’re still experiencing cold floors, you may need to add another layer of it. Unless you are a home improvement expert, it’s best to call in a professional to tackle this project.

Follow these tips and you can comfortably enjoy your porch year-round! Find out how much energy your whole house is consuming with a HomeSelfe.