What’s one thing we all dislike? High utility bills. Aside from lowering energy usage as a way to lower your bill, there are a plethora of other ways to save energy and keep your hard-earned money in your wallet. We’ve compiled a list of 8 ways to save energy and money.
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Insulate Your Home
Keep out the Florida heat! Insulation provides resistance to heat flow. The more heat flow resistance your insulation provides, the lower your heating and cooling costs. Properly insulating your home not only reduces cooling costs, but also improves comfort during those dreadfully hot summer months in Florida.
Where To Insulate?
Windows that have good insulation will make your home more comfortable, because they will allow less heat to pass through while trying to keep the inside of your home cool. The same concept is applied to insulated doors with access to outside the home. A good idea for both doors and windows is to make sure they’re all caulked and sealed properly to ensure there aren’t any air leaks. Leaking air is like throwing money out the door (literally).The attic is an important place to insulate. In unfinished attic spaces, insulate between and over the floor joints to seal off living spaces below from the heat. If the air distribution is in the attic space, then consider insulating the rafters to keep the air distribution in a conditioned space.
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Update To LED Lights
For most of us, the only time we think about light bulbs are when one needs to be replaced. And when those are replaced, it’s easy to go for the incandescent bulbs you’re used to, but you may want to think again next time you’re out buying bulbs. LED light bulbs are a great energy saver! LED lights use 75% less energy than traditional lighting, and over the lifespan of one LED lamp, you will save up to $179 when compared to an incandescent lamp. LED bulbs last a long time too! Overall, LEDs are a great way to save energy and money.
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Check And Seal Ductwork
Ducts are used to distribute conditioned air throughout your house. In a typical house, however, about 20 to 30 percent of the air that moves through the duct system is lost due to leaks, holes, and poorly conditioned ducts. This results in higher utility bills and difficulty keeping the house cool, no matter what the thermostat is set at.
If you notice your utility bill is unusually high, you have rooms that are difficult to cool, your ducts are located in the attic, crawlspace or garage, or if you find tangled or kinked ducts in your system, it’s time to get your ducts check for any air leaks, or if there are any metal ducts that need replacement.
Another thing to consider is upgrading to R8 ductwork versus the standard R6. In these two, the R-value is used to indicate a thermal insulator’s effectiveness in resisting heat conduction. You’ll be able to keep air cool all the way through your system as it travels through your hot attic throughout your house. With R8 ducting, you pay less for your energy utility bills due to the efficiency it comes with.
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Circulate Cold Air With Ceiling Fans
Utilize your ceiling fans to move cool air around your house. Your A/C won’t have to work overtime to try and keep the house cooled, because you’ll be helping disperse the cool air. This will save you money, because the A/C will kick on less throughout the day.
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Schedule Regular HVAC Maintenance
HVAC maintenance is done to keep your system up and running without surprise breakdowns, while operating at top efficiency and a longer lifespan. Think about it like getting your car’s oil changed; if you don’t change the oil until your check engine light pops on, your car isn’t going to run well or for very long. Same goes with your HVAC system.
Maintenance will keep your energy bills lowered. A neglected HVAC system will slowly lose its ability to keep your home cool at the same level of efficiency it once did. Plus, you’ll have fewer repairs, which can become quite costly by the time it’s all said and done. And the last thing you want in the middle of a Florida summer is a complete breakdown on the HVAC unit when you need it most!
Air & Energy’s VIP Program gives customers HVAC maintenance twice a year to keep their systems up and running smoothly.
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Keep Air Filters Clean
It’s important to change your A/C’s air filters regularly. Our recommendation for standard filters is to check them monthly to see if they need cleaning or replacing. Depending on what type of filter you have & what rating it has, you may have to change it more or less frequently. A dirty filter creates air restriction for the air passing through. Less air restriction equals greater efficiency for your A/C.
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Ensure A/C System Is Sized Properly
Do you notice your system running all day to keep up? Or running all day & not reaching the set temperature? It could mean your system is undersized and this could lead to paying more on energy bills for cooling than you need to. An undersized system doesn’t have enough cooling capacity to properly cool your home and runs for extended times in an attempt to reach the set temperature. We can help check and see if your A/C is too small and properly size the system for your home.
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Go Tankless
Gas tankless water heaters are typically considered to be more energy efficient, because they heat water only as it is needed. When the tap is turned on, the water immediately begins to generate and supply hot water. Tankless water heaters usually require far less space, and can be installed on a wall. Their expected lifespan is 15 to 20 years and may reduce water heating bills by as much as 30 percent. Gas tankless water heaters are another great way to save energy and money.
Gas Go Ahead And Get Set Up!
Saving energy and money is a no brainer. To get set up with a greener life (energy and money included) go ahead and give us a call at 941-778-0773 to schedule an appointment, or to ask any questions you may have about different products and options. Our customer service reps would be more than happy to help you!