Did you know that heating and cooling a home accounts for almost half of a home’s energy use?Climate control is an essential part of New England homes, as this area is known for its changeable weather patterns. Since we can’t control the whims of Mother Nature, we must control what we can – how we use energy in our homes. So as the temperature and humidity begins to rise this spring and summer, what can we as homeowners do to reduce our energy bills yet stay comfortable?
Let’s take a look at both inexpensive changes that you can make as well as some simple actions that are FREE.
- Get an Energy Audit – Recommended by the Department of Energy to identify areas of your home where energy is being lost. While homeowners can conduct their own simple walk-through and spot many problems, we recommend a professional home assessment to prioritize and pinpoint each area where energy is being lost. Go to www.masssave.com for more information on free energy audits in your area.
- Use Nature to your Advantage – Evenings in the spring and even in the summer tend to cool off in New England. Use this to your advantage by opening the windows when the sun goes down and allow for air to cross ventilate. This means you will save energy on cooling and still provide cool air in your home. In addition, use indirect sunlight during daylight hours to light main rooms instead of turning on lights. On that same idea, keep window shades drawn in rooms where direct sunlight can heat up a section of the house during peak sunlight hours. All of these actions are easy to do and free!
- Use a Programmable Thermostat – Installing and using a programmable thermostat can save homeowners up to 10% a year on heating and cooling, according to ENERGY.gov. Set your thermostat as high as comfortably possible in the spring and summer. The smaller the difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures, the lower your overall cooling bill will be. In addition, set the thermostat to go off while you are regularly out and turn back on right before you return home. WiFi thermostats are also a great option and rebates up to $100 are available through MassSave.
- Avoid Adding Heat to your Home – Appliances such as the computer, stove, and dishwasher can add unwanted heat to the interior of your home. On hot days avoid using these items and grill outdoors if that is possible.
- Maintain your Heating and Cooling System – A spring clean & check of your air conditioning system will enable you to keep the system operating efficiently when the summer heat arrives. Plus, this simple annual maintenance of your AC system can reduce annual operating costs by as much as 30%. 70% of AC system maintenance calls are on systems who have not been serviced annually.
Save money on your heating and cooling system and splurge on a weekend at the beach! For more mey saving tips, call Morris Heating & Air Conditioning We have a whole team ready to pass on more tips to to help you lower your energy bills this spring!