Saving energy means more dollars in your pocket, but it is also a green initiative that we can all practice to save our valuable resources and be kinder to our environment. Here are a few energy tips to help you save money in energy costs while enjoying your home appliances:
Save Energy While Cooling and Keeping Your Home Comfortable:
- During hot sunny weather, close curtains and blinds to keep the house cool.
- Ceiling fans will often provide sufficient air movement to make a room comfortable, and may reduce the need for air conditioning.
- Turn off bathroom and kitchen fans when no longer required; they are pulling the heat or coolness from the house.
- Trees can help shade exterior air-conditioning units; they’ll use less energy. They also provide shade cooling and protect from drafts and winds.
- To save on air conditioning, raise the setting by a couple of degrees; you will not notice the change, only the energy savings.
- Clean or replace furnace air filters once a month. Not only will this improve efficiency, but it will also help allergy sufferers.
- For the best energy savings, buy Energy Star qualified cooling and heating products.
Reducing Your Heating Costs:
- In colder seasons, turn down your thermostat slightly; every degree can save up to 5% in heating costs.
- Fully or partially closing drapes can reduce drafts and help to keep the room warmer – reducing heating costs.
- Ensure floor registers and baseboard heaters are not blocked by furniture, carpets or drapes, limiting effectiveness.
- If you have bare floors, an area rug can ‘cozy’ your feet.
- Older thermostats are less efficient than newer ones, and you’ll recover the cost quickly.
- Programmable thermostats allow you to customize temperature settings according to when you use the room.
- Clean or replace furnace air filters once a month. Not only will this improve efficiency, but it will also help allergy sufferers.
- For the best energy savings, buy Energy Star qualified cooling and heating products.
The Information Above Provided by: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network (EREN) U.S. Department of Energy.
Additional Return Air Runs – Solve many system airflow problems
Lack of return air is a very common problem for those air conditioning systems that were either poorly designed or originally planned for heat only applications. Adding additional returns to your system allows for greater supply air into your home, resulting in better airflow and comfort for your family. The benefits you will receive by taking care of this problem include: quieter operation, better airflow, fewer air conditioning repairs, longer life of your HVAC equipment, lower utility bills and, best of all, greater comfort.