With the celebration of Earth Day a few weeks ago and spring cleaning on the minds of countless homeowners, it’s a great time to make homes more earth-friendly and energy efficient. In fact, with only a few small, economical changes, homeowners could be on their way to saving 20% or more on monthly energy expenses. Here, the home-efficiency specialists from Service Experts share tricks on how to start saving now.
1. Purchase a Smart Thermostat
A smart thermostat usually saves between 12% to 23% on a power bill, and it’s also a remarkable tool to cut down on carbon emissions from a household. How do they do it? Smart thermostats provide more functions than just programming the time of day for your HVAC system to turn on or off. A number of smart thermostats are intuitive and can detect changes in power use patterns and home activity. They can also be programmed while you are away via an app, and alert homeowners about changes that may impact their energy bill.
“This technology saves you money and also makes life easier,” said Service Experts’ Lisa Lange. “It’s a low-cost way to improve energy efficiency in your home immediately.”
2. Hire a Professional to Perform a Heating and Cooling System Tune-Up
Before the summer heat starts, another eco-friendly move is to set up an air-conditioning system tune-up. This will help homeowners avoid significant repairs during the busy season for HVAC professionals and a system that performs optimally minimizes reliance on fossil fuel energy sources.
A tune-up involves cleaning all of the system’s important components, as well as 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 checked.
“During your tune-up, it’s a great time to tap the expertise of an HVAC pro,” said 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
Installing more insulation in a home is an earth-friendly tip that could help save up to 20% on an energy bill. In many residences, air leaks out through attics, crawl spaces and basements. If a room is drafty and has problems holding a consistent temperature, it may be time to check attic insulation. Cold floors may also be a sign that basement insulation isn’t at the level you really need it to be. All of these worries also lead to higher energy consumption, which leads to more 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 Your Residence Is Airtight
Windows, ductwork, light sockets and weather stripping around doors are all areas of the home subject 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 quick repairs. Swapping out old weather stripping and caulking around windows are two economical tasks that are reasonably easy to tackle, said Lange, and will lower the burden on HVAC systems and the electrical grid too.
5. Consider an Energy Zoning System
To formulate a comfort zoning system for a home, a certified HVAC Expert identifies locations in a house based on its layout, sun exposures and the amount of energy demand different areas need. The HVAC pro can then design a system that precisely distributes air throughout the home balancing comfort and energy efficiency. These systems often use multiple thermostats and adjustments to the ductwork. When joined with a smart thermostat, they can dramatically 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 budget doesn’t make it possible for major upgrades, replacing traditional incandescent light bulbs with energy-efficient LEDs is a low-cost, eco-friendly decision with a huge impact on the environment. Many 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 reduce the price 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 generate an average savings of about $60,000 and greatly reduce a household'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.
To learn more about tips to make a home more energy efficient, visit ServiceExperts.com.