Heating and cooling make up close to half your overall utility expenses, so any little thing you can do to conserve energy helps. The best way to save money is to adopt a whole-house approach (including proper maintenance, energy efficient upgrades, proper insulation, air sealing, and thermostat settings), but here are our 10 best tips on reducing energy expenditure to save money:
- Set the temperature as high in the summer (ideally around 78°) and as low in the winter (68°) as is comfortable. A good rule of thumb is, you’ll save 1% for every degree higher or lower you set the thermostat.
- Speaking of thermostats, we highly recommend switching to a programmable or WiFi model. This will allow you to set the temperature higher or lower while you’re asleep or away from the house. No need to blast the air conditioning when no one is home to enjoy it!
- Use fans in the summer to circulate cooled air throughout your home. Studies indicate this allows you to set the temperature 4° higher without affecting your comfort levels.
- Clean and replace your filters regularly. Your heating and cooling system can’t function at 100% efficiency if it’s clogged with all that dust! While you’re at it, be sure to clean your registers and return air grilles, and make sure they’re not blocked by carpeting, furniture, or drapes.
- During the winter, keep the drapes on southern facing windows open during the day to let in sunshine, and close them at night to reduce the chill coming off the cold windows. In the summer months, keep drapes closed during the day to block some of the sun’s heat.
- In the summer, keep windows closed—even on cool nights. Opening the windows lets in warm, humid air, and your air conditioning unit has to work overtime to remove the extra moisture.
- Plant trees or dense shrubbery along the eastern and southern sides of your house. This provides shade in the summer and a windbreak in the winter. Ask your local nursery for ideas on the best types of plants for your home’s location.
- Replace window screens with storm windows in the winter, and vice versa for summer.
- Seal up all those cracks: make sure the weather stripping in your home is in good condition, and get some stuffed draft blockers to put at the base of your exterior doors. Have a professional come in to inspect your ducts and repair any leaks.
- Maintenance, maintenance, maintenance! Have your system inspected before the severe weather hits. A properly functioning unit can save you up to 25% in energy bills and reduces the chance of unexpected expenses related to breakdowns or major repairs. Take a look at Appel’s off-season Platinum Maintenance Plans to save even more money!