With the celebration of Earth Day a short time ago and spring cleaning on the minds of many homeowners, it’s the perfect time to make homes more earth-friendly and energy efficient. In fact, with only a few small, inexpensive changes, homeowners could be on their way to saving 20% or more on monthly energy bills. Here, the home-efficiency specialists from Service Experts share tricks on how to start saving today.
1. Use a Smart Thermostat
A smart thermostat usually saves between 12% to 23% on a power bill, and it’s also a great tool to cut down on carbon emissions from a residence. How is that possible? Smart thermostats provide more functions than just programming the time of day for the system to turn on or off. Several smart thermostats are intuitive and can detect changes in energy usage patterns and home activity. They can also be programmed from another location, and alert homeowners about changes that may cause a major increase to their energy bill.
“This technology saves you money and also makes life easier,” explained Service Experts’ Lisa Lange. “It’s a low-cost way to improve energy efficiency in your home immediately.”
2. Schedule a Heating and Cooling System Tune-up
Before the summer heat hits, another eco-friendly move is to reach out to an Expert for routine maintenance for your air-conditioning system. It will help homeowners avoid costly repairs during the busy season for HVAC professionals and a system that performs optimally minimizes reliance on fossil fuel energy sources.
A routine maintenance appointment involves cleaning all of the system’s important components, in addition to testing and making adjustments to the unit’s operating system. In addition to checking refrigerant levels and switching out air filters, the condenser located outdoors should also be cleaned and examined.
“During your tune-up, it’s a great time to tap the expertise of an HVAC pro,” explained Lisa Lange. “We encourage customers to ask about thermostat settings, when to change air filters and bring any other questions they may have about the energy efficiency of their home.”
3. Add Insulation
Adding insulation to a home is a green tip that could help save up to 20% on an electricity bill. In many households, air leaks out through attics, crawl spaces and basements. If a room is drafty and has difficulty keeping a consistent temperature, it may be time to examine the building's attic insulation. Cold floors may also be a sign that basement insulation isn’t satisfactory. All of these problems also lead to higher energy consumption, which leads to increased carbon emissions.
“Many homeowners are surprised when they learn their home is under-insulated, but it’s actually quite common,” said Lange. “The good news is that, just like a smart thermostat, you can see the utility cost savings from this decision very quickly. You will also take comfort in knowing that you are helping improve our environment through reduced emissions.
4. Make Sure the House Is Airtight
Windows, ductwork, light sockets and weather stripping around doors are all locations in the home prone to leaks and heat loss or gain (in summer, no one wants muggy air seeping in). Let Earth Day be a signal to green up these areas of the house by making some easy repairs. Swapping out old weather stripping and caulking around windows are two economical tasks that are fairly easy to tackle, said Lange, and will reduce the load on HVAC systems and the electrical grid too.
5. Think About Developing An Energy Zoning System
To formulate a comfort zoning system for a home, a certified HVAC professional identifies areas in a house based on its layout, sun exposures and the amount of energy demand different areas require. The HVAC pro can then design a system that precisely distributes air throughout the home weighing comfort and energy efficiency. These systems commonly use several thermostats and adjustments to the ductwork. When paired with a smart thermostat, they can substantially improve comfort, save customers more than 30% on their energy bill and seriously reduce a home’s greenhouse gas emissions.
“How many times in a day do we heat or cool a room no one is using? It happens all the time, and it adds up to significant energy waste, and these systems are an optimal solution,” Lange said.
6. Use Energy-Efficient Light Bulbs
If a homeowner’s finances don't make it possible for major upgrades, replacing standard incandescent light bulbs with energy-efficient LEDs is a low-cost eco-friendly decision with a big impact on the environment. The majority of LEDs will last up to seven years and use about 90% less power than traditional bulbs.
7. Go Solar
With some 30% in federal tax credits available to bring down the expense of a solar installation, there may never be a better time to install one on a home. Over their lifetime, these quality energy-producing systems can produce an average savings of about $60,000 and greatly reduce a homeowner's total carbon footprint.
“We have the best program in the country. Our experts will develop an energy savings plan that will help you get the most out of your system and show you’re making a direct positive impact on the environment,” Lange said.
For more information about tips to make a home more energy efficient, visit Service Experts today.
