5 Tips on How to Save Energy and Money in Your HomePosted: 2018-09-13
| Here at Four Seasons Air Specialists, we want to make your home as comfortable and energy-efficient as possible. Being your preferred HVAC company in Lino Lakes MN, helping you reach that goal is very important to us. In this regard, we have compiled five easy steps to lessen your energy usage, which results in lower utility bills and more savings for you. Switch to Energy-Efficient Light Bulbs In recent years, lighting efficiency standards have continued to increase, which means traditional light bulbs will struggle to keep up. According to ENERGY STAR, you can save $75 each year simply by replacing your home’s five most frequently used light fixtures or bulbs with models that have the ENERGY STAR label. Compared to common incandescents, energy-efficient light bulbs such as light emitting diodes (LEDs) and compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) have the following rewards:
Wash Your Clothes Wisely Not all laundry needs to be washed in hot or even warm water. Since washing in cold water will reduce energy needed to heat the water, be sure to sort out the loads and choose which fabrics need to be washed in heated water. Wash white clothes in hot water regularly to keep them as white as possible; everything else should be washed in warm or cold water. Whenever possible, air dry your clothes. This is the best way to reduce the energy consumed by your clothes dryer. If you do need to use it, learn how to separate clothes and select cycles that improve drying time. Avoid overfilling the dryer, over-drying your clothes, and separate heavy from light fabrics. Upgrade to a Smart Thermostat Smart thermostats have the ability to learn your personal schedule and preferences, which makes it easy to be energy-efficient by simply allowing the thermostat to control your home’s temperature. If you’re someone who prefers to let your furnace or air conditioner run all day, you’ll appreciate the way a smart thermostat can detect that you’re away. It will then make the adjustments needed to ensure your system runs accordingly. These state-of-the-art devices also enable you to control your indoor climate from anywhere. If there are any changes to your schedule, like when you’re coming home early from work, if you have your connected device handy, you can manage your thermostat while you’re on your way home! Install a Tankless Water Heater Tankless water heaters offer a lot of advantages over traditional water systems. A tankless water heater uses 30 to 50 percent less energy than units with tanks, saving a typical family at least a hundred dollars or more per year, depending on water usage. Tankless systems, also called “on demand” units, heat water only when you turn on the faucet. They usually operate on natural gas or propane. The main advantage is that they remove the extra cost of keeping 40 to 50 gallons of water hot in a storage tank, so you use less energy. They also offer a continuous supply of hot water, which is ideal for filling a big hot tub or a whirlpool. By providing hot water immediately where it's used, tankless water heaters waste less water. You don't need to let the water run as you wait for hot water to reach a remote faucet. Optimize Your Home’s Insulation Insulation acts as a barrier to heat loss and heat gain. It minimizes the exchange of heat through a surface such as a wall, attic, duct, or roof. In a well-insulated home, less warm air escapes from the house during the winter, and less cool air gets away during the summer, which lowers the amount of energy required for heating and cooling. By improving your home’s insulation, you can easily save as much as 80 percent in heating and cooling losses. Want More Helpful Tips? Call the HVAC Pros If you want to convert your home into an energy-efficient living space, call Four Seasons Air Specialists. We have multiple decades of experience and knowledge to help you achieve a more comfortable home while saving money on utilities at the same time. We are your reliable Lino Lakes heating and air conditioning contractor that delivers no less than excellent HVAC products and services. |