Studies suggest that close to half of all the energy used in our homes goes toward keeping the temperature of our living spaces comfortable. If you’re looking for a way to save money on your utility bills, here are some Energy Star tips from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that will help lower the cost of keeping your home comfortable.
Making Your Home More Efficient
You don’t have to sacrifice comfort for savings. By incorporating these Energy Star tips, you’ll save money without turning off your furnace or air conditioner. Try these energy-busting hints and you should see an immediate reduction in your heating or cooling bills:
- Change your forced-air HVAC system’s air filter regularly. Inspecting the air filter every month and replacing it when necessary is one of the cheapest and most effective ways to slash your energy use. Dirty air filters reduce air flow through your system, which results in increased energy use in the short-term and expensive repairs or replacements over the long-term. Making sure your air filter is clean also will help you breathe easier and relieve allergy or asthma symptoms.
- Make the switch to Energy Star-qualified products for your heating and cooling needs. If your HVAC system is more than a decade old, you may want to consider the benefits of upgrading to a more efficient model that uses less energy.
- Give your ducts another look. Ripped, tangled or kinked ductwork could be costing you a lot of extra money each month. Inspect the ducts in your attic, basement or garage for leaks or other problems. If you notice any holes or tears, seal the leaks with duct mastic or quality metal tape. If the problem is serious enough, you might need to replace them entirely.
- Contact a professional about the benefits of a programmable thermostat or install one yourself. This device allows you to set energy-saving temperature adjustments according to your daily and weekly schedules.
Want to learn more about how small steps can add up to big savings over time? Contact Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning. We’ve been proudly serving Lorain, Erie and Cuyahoga counties for more than 50 years.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Lorain, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about Energy Star and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning
1 (440) 246-5440
Serving the Lorain, OH Area