by Cooper Climate Control
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While everyone has to pay their home energy bill, not everyone understands exactly what they are paying for. By better understanding what precisely you are paying for, you can make smart choices which will ultimately save you money.
EnergyStar.gov reports the following average breakdown of home energy bills:
- 46% Heating and Air Conditioning
- 14% Water Heating
- 13% Home Appliances
- 12% Lighting
- 4% Electronic Devices
- 11% Standby Voltage (Devices plugged in but not turned on)
Clearly your heating and air conditioning systems are a large portion of your home energy bill. If you are invested in reducing your bill, the following tips can help you reduce your monthly payments:
- Thermostat Adjustment – When you plan to go outside, adjust your thermostat so that your system doesn’t work as hard while you are away. In the winter this means setting the temperature lower and during the summer setting it higher.
- Allow Nature to Help – In the winter, allow as much natural light in as possible. The more nature can heat your house, the less energy your system has to use. In the summer, try to keep things in the shade as much as possible. Use blinds and curtains to prevent sunshine from adding extra heat for you AC to overcome.
- Filter Checks – One of the most common reasons heating and cooling systems do not operate at top efficiency is because of the filters. To ensure your system does not suffer from this problem, you should check your filters monthly. Clean and replace those filters as necessary.
- Keep Your Heated or Cooled Air Inside – With proper insulation and being mindful of open windows and doors, you can increase the amount of temperature controlled air which escapes your home. It does you no good to allow the air you have created to enter the outside areas.
- Avoid Heat Generating Tasks in the Summer – When you’ve got your AC working to keep the house cool, you want to avoid further taxing your system. One way to do this is by avoiding tasks requiring the stove and other heat generating appliances. Considering doing these tasks at night when your AC is generally less stressed.
- Consider Upgrading Older Units – Any system which is around 10-15 years old, may be using more energy than it’s necessary. Investing in a new energy efficient model can save you a lot of money in the long run.
- Consult a Professional About Your System – There are numerous technical aspects related to your energy efficiency and heating and cooling system. Some of these include the size of your unit compared to the space you are heating and cooling, the condition of your unit’s coils, and determining specific challenges to your system. Although consulting a professional may initially incur a small cost, your will get that money back in all that you will save on your monthly bills.
If you are looking for some assistance in reducing your home energy bills, our HVAC technicians will be more than happy to help. With our years of experience, we can quickly and efficiently take steps to help you reduce that monthly payment.
