It’s Time to Improve Energy Efficiency in Your Home
It’s Time to Improve Energy Efficiency in Your Home
04/1/2024
Springtime! The snow is melting, flowers are blooming, and cheerful voices can be heard as people stroll leisurely through downtowns and neighborhoods. It’s finally getting warmer. Before long, spring will give way to summer, and we’ll be wishing for a little less of that warmth we were eager to arrive just a few months ago.
Of course, as the heat turns up, temperature isn’t the only thing on the rise. Energy bills also tend to skyrocket in the summer thanks to the increased need for A/C and cooling. No one wants to run the air all day. Still, when we’re facing increasingly persistent stretches of boiling heat—last summer featured the hottest August in recorded history for North America—it doesn’t feel like we have much of an option.
Unfortunately, energy costs, primarily electricity, are also reaching new highs. It’s not unusual for them to increase slowly over time, but according to Statista, in 2022, prices jumped by a stunning 10.7% compared to the previous year. You have almost certainly felt the pinch when your utility bill comes in the mail.
We’re all looking for ways to save on energy costs around the house without sacrificing comfort (I don’t know about you, but I can’t sleep in a room that’s too hot!). With that in mind, here are some tips for trimming the utility bills by living more energy efficiently:
Schedule routine HVAC maintenance. Heating and air units become less efficient, especially if they are not properly maintained. Due to lack of maintenance, an inefficient system uses more energy to cool down a room than a newly installed or serviced unit. Every percentage point of efficiency you can get back represents money saved over time—we recommend connecting with your local trusted HVAC service to schedule a service call to assess where your unit is at.
Replace lighting with energy-efficient options.LED lightbulbs can still be found in the warm-colored glow of traditional bulbs, and they require a fraction of the energy to light up a room—while lasting many times longer, as well. This upgrade may not lead to the most significant chunk of change off your energy bill, but it’s the quickest and easiest to implement. Also, keep an eye out for Energy Star-rated appliances when replacing things like washers, dryers, and kitchen devices—they save you a lot in the long term!
Need to repair your roof anyway? Upgrade to a “cool roof.” We don’t mean “cool” like you would say someone is a “cool dude,” although these roofs can look pretty cool, too! Instead, these are roofs that are designed to reflect sunlight. As they absorb less heat energy, the house heats up less in the summer and requires less energy to cool down. A study found that even without A/C, cool roofs can lower maximum indoor temperatures by up to 5.9°F.
Upgrade to a highly efficient heat pump unit. Heat pumps transfer heat between the inside of your home and outside—in the summer months, they transfer that heat back outside where it belongs! Transferring takes less energy than generating heat or cool air. High-efficiency heat pumps also dehumidify more effectively than your usual A/C unit, lowering energy usage while keeping you cool. These heat pumps are also excellent for the cold months and can reduce electricity use by 65% compared to furnaces and baseboard heaters—or even up to 80% if it’s a geothermal heat pump. Geothermal pumps are incredibly efficient units, using the warmer earth in the wintertime and the cooler ground in the summer to regulate indoor temps.
Give your thermostat an I.Q. boost. “Smart” thermostats can be programmed to minimize unneeded energy consumption and maximize your comfort by automatically heating or cooling the house at the optimal times and speeds based on your home usage. Suppose you’re out of the house from 9 to 5. In that case, it can automatically use less energy when you’re out but start cooling to the optimal temperature shortly before arriving home. That way, you’re not wasting energy and don’t have to endure uncomfortable periods waiting for the A/C to kick in.
If you’re looking for an expert team of HVAC professionals to help make your home more energy efficient and cool down your house AND your monthly utility bills, contact us today!