Home Upgrades That Can Decrease Energy Consumption
Sometimes it seems as if trying to lower your energy consumption at home is a full-time job. Fortunately, there are many different techniques that can help you accomplish this, but if you want to make an impact right away, we suggest you focus on making a couple important home upgrades.
Install a Programmable Thermostat
Manual and old-style digital thermostats are a thing of the past. Programmable thermostats allow you to select specific times for when your HVAC system switches on and off. This keeps the system from running when no one is home or awake, which can save you a good chunk of money without sacrificing comfort.
Seal Air Leaks
Air leaks contribute to a large chunk of energy loss in millions of homes across the country. Air leaks force your HVAC system to work harder, which means you’re paying more for energy each month and wearing out your system at a faster rate. A quick fix is to seal gaps around your windows and doors with weatherstripping. If you want to tackle your entire home, call a professional to conduct an energy evaluation to find the leaks.
Replace Appliances
Many people don’t realize how much energy their refrigerator uses. Replacing an old fridge with a more energy-efficient model will immediately lower your energy consumption. The same is true with switching your furnace or water heater with one that uses less energy and/or a more efficient type of fuel. For the best performance, any replacement should be done with systems bearing the Energy Star label.
Add Insulation
If the insulation in your attic and exterior walls isn’t sufficient, your home won’t be able to maintain a comfortable temperature, and your HVAC system will run for longer intervals. You can tackle this problem by adding more insulation. If you don’t know how to do this yourself, you should call an HVAC technician for help.
At Sobieski Services, Inc., our goal is to help our customers in Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey learn more about energy and home comfort issues – especially HVAC and plumbing issues – so that they can save money and live in healthier, more comfortable homes.
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