Summer is over and the heating season is approaching. That makes this a good time to think about saving energy. There are many simple things you can do around the house to save energy as you will see below. If you have any other tips that you don't see below, feel free to send them in.
WINDOWS
Do you know that up to 25% of your heat can go out the window?
Here's what you can do:
Use caulking and weatherstripping to stop much of the heated air from escaping.
Replace single-thickness windows with thermal-type double thickness windows.
Install storm windows and doors to provide additional insurance against heat loss.
Add window insulation kits which uses double-sided tape, clear plastic and a hair dryer.
INSULATION
Are you aware that an un insulated attic can raise your heating and cooling costs?
Here's what you can do:
Install R-30 insulation in the ceiling(attic).
Install R-19 insulation in the floor joists(basement).
Install R-13 insulation in the walls.
Install R-11 insulation on the basement walls.
LIGHTING
Did you know that compact fluorescent light bulbs use one-fourth the wattage and provide the same amount of soft light as incandescent bulbs?
Here's what you can do:
Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent ones.
Use lower wattage bulbs for small areas like hallways and vestibules.
Get in the habit of turning out the lights when you leave a room.
APPLIANCES
Do you know that the biggest user of energy on the home is your heating and cooling system?
To conserve energy and cut down on energy waste here's what you can do:
Upgrade older equipment with higher efficiency furnaces, central air conditioners and heat pumps.
Make sure that your heating and/or cooling equipment is properly sized for your home. Operating a unit that is too small or too large is very inefficient. Your heating and air conditioning contractor can determine the best size unit for your home.
Check your heating system to see that it is running efficiently. Have your dealer inspect the system before the winter months. Be sure to change the filters regularly — at least every three months.
If you replace your central air conditioner, make sure that the contractor replaces the indoor coil as well as the outside condensing unit. Otherwise, your system won't perform at its promised efficiency.
Install electric ceiling fans to boost the efficiency of room air conditioners in the summer and to circulate warm air away from the ceiling in the winter.
Be sure to clean or replace filters of all equipment regularly. Clogged filters make appliances work harder, so they use more energy to do the same job.
Help lower your energy requirements by wearing appropriate clothing in your home; lightweight clothing in the summer and warmer clothing in the winter.
Check the efficiency ratings mandated by the Department of Energy when you shop for new equipment so you can make sure you're getting high-efficiency equipment. Ratings will be prominently displayed on the yellow hang tag required by law to be on each new unit sold.
BONUS TIPS:
1 - Consider purchasing a set-back thermostat. It can cut your utility costs by 9 to 30%.
2 - By using a central humidifier during the heating season, not only will you be more comfortable but you can lower your thermostat by 2 degrees and feel just as warm while saving money on your heating costs.
3 - If your heating and air conditioning system is over 12 years old, consider replacement. Newer units are much more efficient. They also come with better warranties so no expensive repair bills to worry about.
ADDITIONAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY INFORMATION:
1 - Central Air Conditioner efficiency is measured by the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER). The higher the SEER the more efficient the unit. Units with a SEER of 12 or above are considered high-efficiency; 17 is the highest available.
2 - Furnace efficiency is measured by the Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) rating. The colder the climate and the higher the local utility rates, the higher the AFUE you should get. Furnaces with AFUE ratings of 90% percent and above are considered high-efficiency; 96.6% is the highest available.
3 - Heat pump cooling efficiency is measured by a SEER rating; a heat pump's heating efficiency is measured as the Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF). A heat pump with a SEER of 12 or higher and an HSPF of at least 8 is considered high-efficiency.
4 - Room Air Conditioner efficiency is measured by the Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER), which is the BTU/hr output divided by the watts of electricity the unit uses. It basically tells you how much heat you get out of the unit compared to how much electricity you put into it. The higher the EER, the less the electricity the air conditioner will use.
For more energy-efficiency tips, homeowners can call the DOE at
1-800-DOE-3732 to order a free, 36-page Energy Savers booklet or visit the
Energy Savers Web site at http://www.eren.doe.gov/consumerinfo/energy_savers.
The Energy Savers campaign, developed by the Energy Department in partnership
with Owens Corning, provides Americans with more than 100 easy and practical
energy-efficiency tips and projects.
If you have a tip regarding your HVAC system that you would like to share, let us know... If we like it, we will add it to our website!
