Common Sense Equals Lower Energy Bills: Are You Willing to and Save Money?

You do not have to sacrifice comfort to save money on your energy bills. Contractors agree that common sense and proper maintenance will keep your home comfortable in the winter and summer without breaking the bank. Wouldn’t it be nice to open your utility bills throughout the year without the shock of that first winter or summer meter reading? Those in the business offer the following energy-saving advice, which, if you read it carefully, makes sense.

Did You Know?

Did you know that running your heater in the winter and your air conditioner in the summer could increase your energy bills by as much as 50 percent? These units can double your usage because they consume a lot of energy, especially if they’re older. It behooves you to find ways to heat and cool your home without sole reliance upon them. For example, the sun is the earth’s natural heater, and you can take advantage of solar heat in the winter by strategically opening and closing your window treatments.

During the day, open the window blinds and curtains on the side of the house where the sun shines in. Close the window treatments on the opposite side. Allow the warmth of the sun to penetrate your windows and seep into the home. Once the sun moves, close the blinds and curtains on the shaded side, and open them on the sunny side. This draws and traps natural heat. Once the sun sets for the evening, close all blinds and curtains to keep the solar heat indoors. You will notice your heater runs less.

Do the opposite in the summer. Close all blinds and draperies during the day to prevent solar energy from entering into your home. Make certain you have blinds and draperies for all windows, including your kitchen and bathroom. For large windows, such as bay windows in your living room, add anawning or another exterior window treatment outside. This keeps the sun from beating down on your window, and you can remove the awning in the winter when it’s time, once again, to let the solar heat in.

Don’t Prolong the Agony

Many people are of the mindset that semi-annual HVAC inspections are a waste of money. They are not. Professional technicians check your heater, air conditioner, air ducts, and vents to ensure everything works at maximum efficiency. Even the slightest tear in a section of your air duct will make your heater or air conditioner work harder and run up your energy bill. Have your HVAC checked in the spring and fall, and if you need heating and air conditioning repair, don’t put it off. Waiting will cost more money.

Secure Your Perimeter

If your door and window jambs are loose, cold air seeps in during the winter and hot air seeps in during the summer. Your indoor air is seeping out, too, so you must ensure that your home is sealed tightly. This includes weather stripping along the doors and windows as well as no openings at the bottom of your doors. Check your doors and windows from the outside, too, and caulk where necessary to fill in any cracks. When you secure the interior and exterior perimeters, you prevent unwanted air exchange.

Set it and Forget It

Finally, don’t turn your thermostat up and then down and then up and then down. You might think you’re saving money doing this, but many experts disagree. The harder your unit has to work to get the indoors to the set thermostat temperature, the more energy it uses. It’s best to pick a temperature and keep it there. This way, once the unit heats or cools the indoor air to your desired comfort level all it has to do afterward is flip on and off occasionally to maintain the indoor environment.

Written by johnny