Imagine saving money on utility costs, reducing your energy consumption, and taking a little pressure off your heating and cooling equipment. All without sacrificing comfort. Sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it?
Actually, it’s easier than you think. Simply adopting a few smart, energy-efficient practices can lead to substantial savings without forgoing the comfort and convenience you depend on. Here are 8 tips to keeping your energy expenses down.
- Know your usage. One of the best ways to get a handle on your household’s energy usage is with a home energy audit. Through an audit, you’ll be able to determine how much energy you use, identify problem areas, and plan for necessary energy-saving improvements.
- Use your windows. During the winter months, keep blinds, shades, and curtains open during the day to flood your home with natural warmth and light. Come sunset, close window coverings to minimize heat loss. If your windows are older and drafty, install window insulation to keep cold air out.
- Close the gaps. Seal any air leaks around windows and exterior doors to cut down on heating and cooling costs. And don’t forget to check around chimneys, in areas where ductwork, plumbing, or electrical wiring comes through exterior walls, and around dryer vents.
- Program the thermostat. A programmable thermostat allows you to raise or lower the temperature automatically according to your schedule. When no one is home, lower the thermostat in the winter and raise it in the summer so you’re not paying to heat or cool an empty house.
- Bundle up. Layering your clothes will keep you warm on the coldest of days and allows you to turn down the thermostat a few degrees.
- Reverse ceiling fans. A ceiling fan is not merely a warm-weather essential. During the winter months, run your ceiling fan in reverse (or clockwise) to push warm air trapped by the ceiling down to where you need it most.
- Use motion sensors. Replace manual light switches with motion sensor versions to automatically turn lights off when no one is in the room. And swap out energy-hogging incandescent bulbs with efficient and long-lasting LED bulbs.
- Service your HVAC systems. Help keep your heating and cooling equipment operating at peak efficiency by scheduling annual routine maintenance. Regular maintenance can also identify problem areas before they turn into costly repairs and helps extend equipment life.
And that’s where we come in – Zach Heating & Cooling. One of our expert technicians will give your HVAC systems a thorough going-over to help ensure maximum performance and energy efficiency. Call today to schedule service and check one energy-saving step off your to-do list.