|
|
Consider this: Roughly two-thirds of a home’s annual energy usage goes toward space and water heating. In most American homes, winter heating is responsible for sending nearly four tons of greenhouse gases into the air each month. As much as half of all the energy used in the home is wasted. Efficient heating is starting to sound pretty good about now.
- One helpful tip is to clean out your filters or replace them regularly. This seems so simple, but many homeowners forget this. A dirty filter will quickly hinder the airflow, costing you more money to run your system.
- By installing a high-efficiency HVAC system, you will reduce the amount of greenhouse gasses emitted. If that’s not enough to smile about, you also shave a big chunk of change off your utility bills.
- In addition to the standard clean and check on the furnace, having a professional technician perform a combustion test and precision tune up will increase efficiency. This also reduces carbon monoxide inside your furnace, which is vented out the flue pipe, also known as emissions.
- Have the air conditioner or heat pump coils professionally cleaned. This reduces the electric used to operate the system and may pay for itself in one season.
- Consider replacing your old Freon air conditioner with a new environmentally sound system. New residential air conditioners and heat pumps use the refrigerant R410-A, and are safer for the environment. In 2010, manufactures will no longer be able to use Freon in production of new units.
- Having a programmable thermostat professionally installed can save 10% on your utility bills alone if just used in the heating season. Why heat a home to comfortable temperatures when you are away?
- When replacing your HVAC system, consider upgrading to a Hybrid (dual-fuel) heating/cooling system. An example of a hybrid is a gas furnace installed with a heat pump. You get the best of both worlds (gas and electric) and the running time of your gas furnace can be reduced by 60%, which saves you money.
- The better you draft-proof and insulate your home, the more you’ll need good ventilation. Pollutants can accumulate and excess condensation can cause mold and mildew to grow. Open some windows for a few minutes several times a day (cross-ventilate, if possible), rather than leaving a window partly open all the time. Having a variable speed fan motor on you furnace or air handler allows you to run the fan all the time for pennies a day.
- Remember, the ability of insulation to resist heat flow is measured by a rating known as an R-value. While recommended minimum R-values for homes will vary by climate and may be affected by how a home is built and the type of heating used, here are a few rules of thumb: For mild climates, R-11 in the walls and floors and R-19 in ceilings below ventilated attics. For moderate climates, R-19 in the walls and floors and R-30 in ceilings below ventilated attics. For cold climates, R-19 in walls and under floors and R-38 to R-49 in ceilings below ventilated attics. For more specific recommendations by region, see the Dept. of Energy’s insulation site.
- Three trees planted strategically around your home can reduce energy use by as much as 50%, according to American Forests. Follow its simple planting instructions for optimal success.
|
|
|
