If you’ve been hearing about home performance upgrades but aren’t quite sure what exactly that means, you’re not alone. A home performance upgrade is all about improving your home’s energy efficiency, comfort, indoor air quality, and overall functionality. It’s a whole-home approach that identifies areas where your home could be working smarter—not harder—to save energy, lower utility bills, and create a healthier living environment.
These upgrades go beyond just swapping out a few light bulbs or adjusting your thermostat. They’re designed to optimize how your home uses and retains energy from top to bottom. The best part? Many of these improvements start with a simple home energy audit, which uncovers problem areas and shows you where to make the most impactful changes. Let’s break down what a home performance upgrade includes and how it can benefit you.
How Does a Home Performance Upgrade Help?
A home performance upgrade brings multiple benefits:
- Lower Utility Bills – By sealing air leaks, improving insulation, and optimizing airflow, your HVAC system doesn’t have to work as hard, reducing your energy use and monthly costs.
- Improved Comfort – Say goodbye to hot or cold spots in your home. Upgrades help maintain a consistent indoor temperature, regardless of the season.
- Better Indoor Air Quality – With advanced ventilation and air sealing, your home keeps outdoor pollutants and allergens out while cycling in fresh, filtered air.
- Increased Home Value – Energy-efficient homes are more attractive to buyers and may qualify for rebates or energy-efficiency incentives.
- Reduced Environmental Impact – Using less energy means reducing your carbon footprint, which is good for your wallet and the planet.
Common Home Performance Products & Services
Here are some of the most popular and effective home performance upgrades available today:
1. Whole House Attic Fans
Attic fans are an excellent way to reduce heat buildup in your attic, which can dramatically lower the temperature inside your home during warmer months. These fans pull cooler outside air through your living space and exhaust hot air through the attic, reducing the strain on your AC system and improving airflow throughout the home.
2. Home Automation
Smart home technology is more than just convenience—it’s a performance booster. Smart thermostats, lighting, and HVAC controls let you automate energy usage based on your schedule. Some systems even learn your habits over time, optimizing comfort and efficiency automatically. Plus, you can control everything from your smartphone, whether you’re home or away.
3. Heat Recovery Ventilators (HRVs) and Energy Recovery Ventilators (ERVs)
Modern homes are built tighter to prevent energy loss, but that also means fresh air circulation can suffer. HRVs and ERVs solve this problem by exchanging stale indoor air with fresh outdoor air while capturing and transferring heat and moisture in the process. These systems help regulate humidity, reduce energy loss, and promote healthier air indoors.
4. Air Sealing
One of the most cost-effective upgrades, air sealing targets gaps and cracks around windows, doors, ductwork, and the attic that allow conditioned air to escape. Sealing these leaks helps your HVAC system operate more efficiently and keeps your indoor temperature consistent, especially in extreme weather.
5. Insulation Improvements
Insulation is your home’s thermal blanket. When properly installed and maintained, it helps keep heated or cooled air inside your home, reducing energy consumption. Upgrading attic or wall insulation can make a noticeable difference in both your comfort and your monthly utility bill.
Contact RKM Heating and Air Conditioning today to schedule an appointment with us to improve overall home performance. Done Right, Priced Right.