by Cooper Climate Control
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It’s easier than ever to make your home more energy efficient. You can receive huge reductions in heating, cooling and electricity expenses with just a few simple changes that most homeowners can implement themselves. Follow these tips from Phoenix air conditioning and heating experts to save money and conserve energy in your home.
Change Your Habits
Something as small as turning off your lights when you leave a room can help decrease your electricity bills. Other changes include turning up your A/C temperature when you leave the house and closing the doors to rooms that are usually unoccupied during the day to keep the air from circulating into those unused spaces. However, do not close the vents in those rooms. While this might seem like a good way to save energy, it actually disrupts the balance of your system and can result in higher energy bills.
Know Where You’re Spending Money on Energy
One of the most important things you can do for yourself and your wallet is to know where and how energy is used in your home. About 14 percent of the average home’s energy is used by a water heater, and 46 percent is used by an average heating and cooling system. Other common sources of excessive energy use include computers and electronics, large appliances like the washer, dryer and refrigerator, and lighting. Know your home inside and out so you know where you can save more.
Insulate the Home
This is the simplest and most cost-effective way to make your home more energy efficient. Homeowners who have their homes properly insulated by professionals can expect to save an average of 40 percent on their cooling and heating costs.
Form a Barrier Against the Elements
Weatherproofing your home is simple and doesn’t require a lot of effort. You can use caulk or closed-cell foam to seal the cracks around windows, outdoor overhangs and chimneys. You may also want to consider weather-stripping around doors and the exterior to keep out drafts.
Address Duct Leaks
Leaky ducts contribute hundreds of dollars to your yearly heating and cooling bills. Energy Star estimates that 20 – 30 percent of the air that moves through a forced-air duct system gets lost due to leaks and holes. To reduce that loss, perform a duct audit and seal and insulate your ducts. Repairing broken air ducts and replacing old, inefficient systems are easy ways to reduce energy costs by up to 20 percent.
Improve Heating in Winter
To help save money in the winter, set your thermostat to 70° or lower when you sleep or when you are out of the home. After all, you don’t want to pay for heating when you aren’t even enjoying the benefits of it! If your heating system breaks down in winter, call Cooper Climate Control; they offer quality heating maintenance in Phoenix, Arizona, and other surrounding areas.
Improve Cooling in Summer
Reducing air conditioning use in the summer is something that Arizona residents struggle to do and their wallets suffer. To help you save money, we recommended setting your thermostat to 78° or higher when you are not home and choosing an energy plan that works best for your schedule so that you can still live in comfort when you are home. You should also invest in a programmable thermostat to manage your temperatures. Living in Arizona can be difficult, especially in the summer. Nobody wants to be caught without a working A/C unit in the Arizona heat. Call today to make sure your A/C unit is operating at optimal settings.
Maintain Your HVAC System
Replace the filters in your HVAC system every month to make sure the air can flow unimpeded. If your system is old, weathered or in a state of disrepair, it is time for a system upgrade. When you choose a high-efficiency central air conditioner from Cooper Climate Control, you can expect to use around 14 percent less energy.
Don’t Forget About Your Appliances
Household appliance use makes up 13 percent of the average home’s energy usage. Try to use small kitchen appliances over their large counterparts when possible. For example, a toaster oven is an energy-efficient alternative for an oven in many cases, while an electric griddle or indoor electric griddle can substitute for a stove. We recommend switching to energy-efficient products that use about 10-20 percent less energy than other appliances and unplugging small appliances when they are not in use.
Change Your Light Bulbs
On average, 12 percent of a home’s energy usage comes from lighting. If you are looking for a lighting solution that will have you using 70-90 percent less energy, then switch to LED bulbs. These types of bulbs will last up to 25 times longer than incandescent light bulbs.
Homeowners who make even a couple of these changes usually find that their energy bills become cheaper. If you’re looking for a quality air conditioning installation service in Phoenix because you suddenly find yourself going without, call Cooper Climate Control. We replace, repair and service all different types of heating and air conditioning units in homes and commercial facilities thought out the great Phoenix area. Let us help you find substantial energy savings – contact us today to schedule your free consultation!