8 Ways to Reduce Energy Use This Year
The weather in Crawfordsville, Florida, this summer will be hot, as always, and you’ll turn to your air conditioner for relief. Electricity prices have increased substantially, and in order to reduce your household energy usage, it’s important to follow certain steps for energy conservation. Energy-efficient use of your air conditioning not only lowers the operational costs, but it also prevents resource exhaustion and helps conserve nature for future generations.
Make Behavioral Changes
Making some behavioral adjustments can help save a significant amount of energy over time. Switch off lights, TVs, fans, computers, and other appliances when they are not in use. If you are expecting a hot day, try to cool your home or office a little early to get ahead of the heat of the day. Similarly, during winter, start heating the rooms early if you are expecting a cold day.
Buy Energy-Efficient Appliances
A home energy monitor can help you track the appliances that are consuming more power. Consider retiring the ones that are using too much energy.
Buy appliances with good energy ratings. Replace traditional incandescent bulbs with efficient fluorescent lights. These bulbs use 25 to 30 percent less electricity and last 25 times longer than conventional bulbs. Similarly, using ceiling fans with DC motors can help you save at least 5 to 10 percent on energy, compared to the fans running on AC motors.
Install a Programmable Thermostat
Install a programmable thermostat that can automatically turn on and off the heating and cooling units. It will help you save energy by allowing you to set higher temperatures for times you are sleeping or not at home in summer. Similarly, in winter, you can save energy by setting lower temperatures so your heating system does not have to work longer.
Upgrade Your HVAC System
Heating and cooling your home accounts for more than 40 percent of the energy usage at home. If your HVAC system is too old and is consuming a lot of energy, it may be time to upgrade to a new one. Modern systems are more efficient since they need to comply with higher SEER-rating requirements. They come with advanced energy-saving features like zoning, variable refrigerant units (VRF), and smart thermostats.
Add Insulation
Insulate your home thoroughly. It plays a vital role in retaining heat during winter and keeping heat away during summer. Close all the doors and windows when you are using air conditioners or heating equipment.
Seal your chimney with a damper. This will not allow the heat to escape during winter. Shade your windows during summer to keep the heat out.
Maintain Your HVAC System
Air conditioners, heat pumps, and furnaces require regular maintenance to keep you comfortable during those hot summers and chilly winters. Modern air conditioning equipment is designed to last quite a few years, but it requires skilled technicians for proper installation and maintenance. Regular maintenance reduces costly repairs and keeps the equipment working at its peak efficiency. A professional maintenance program includes cleaning, lubricating, testing electrical components, checking refrigerant level, balancing the registers, and replacing filters.
Use a Smart Power Strip
Smart power strips reduce the phantom power loads by shutting out the devices when they are not in use. They can be set to turn off all the appliances at a specific time or during a period of inactivity. You can control them through remote switches.
Consider Installing a Geothermal Heat Pump
Geothermal heat pumps are environmentally friendly, and they conserve energy when compared to traditional heating systems. They use Earth as the energy transfer medium and optimize the heat exchange process in the condenser. This unique heat exchange process provides temperature stability. This is the reason why a geothermal system can save you up to 40 percent of operating costs.
At Advanced Air Care Heating & Cooling, we have over 35 years of experience working on almost every imaginable heating and cooling system. If you are looking for ways to reduce your energy bills while keeping your home cool and comfortable this summer, give us a call at 850-688-9265. One of our customer support representatives will be glad to schedule a home visit for you.
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