7 Tips for a More Earth-Friendly and Energy-Efficient Home

With the celebration of Earth Day a short time ago and spring cleaning on the minds of a lot of homeowners, it’s a great time to make homes more earth-friendly and energy efficient. In fact, with only a few small, economical changes, homeowners could be on their way to saving 20% or more on monthly energy bills. Here, the home-efficiency specialists from share tips on how to start saving today.

1. Purchase a Smart Thermostat

A smart thermostat typically saves between 12% to 23% on an energy bill, and it’s also a great tool to lower carbon emissions from a household. How do they do it? Smart thermostats provide more functions than simply programming the time of day for the heating or cooling system to turn on or off. Several smart thermostats are intuitive and can detect changes in power use patterns and home activity. They can also be programmed remotely, and notify homeowners about changes that may affect their energy bill.

“This technology saves you money and also makes life easier,” said Service Experts’ Lisa Lange. “It’s a low-cost way to improve energy efficiency in your home immediately.”

2. Schedule a Heating and Cooling System Tune-up

Before the summer heat arrives, another eco-friendly move is to reach out to an Expert for routine servicing and inspection of your air-conditioning system. Routine maintenance will help homeowners avoid significant repairs during the busy season for HVAC pros and a system that performs optimally minimizes reliance on fossil fuel energy sources.

A routine servicing involves cleaning all of the system’s important components, in addition to testing and making adjustments to the unit’s operating system. In addition to checking refrigerant levels and switching out air filters, the condenser located outside the house should also be cleaned and inspected.

“During your tune-up, it’s a great time to tap the expertise of an HVAC pro,” explained Lisa Lange. “We encourage customers to ask about thermostat settings, when to change air filters and bring any other questions they may have about the energy efficiency of their home.”

3. Add Insulation

Adding insulation to a home is an eco-friendly tip that could help save up to 20% on a utility bill. In many households, air escapes through attics, crawl spaces and basements. If a room is drafty and has problems keeping a consistent temperature, it may be time to check attic insulation. Cold floors might also be a sign that basement insulation isn’t sufficient. All of these problems also lead to increased energy consumption, which leads to increased carbon emissions.

“Many homeowners are surprised when they learn their home is under-insulated, but it’s actually quite common,” said Lange. “The good news is that, just like a smart thermostat, you can see the utility cost savings from this decision very quickly. You will also take comfort in knowing that you are helping improve our environment through reduced emissions.

4. Make Sure the House Is Airtight

Windows, ductwork, light sockets and weather stripping around doors are all areas of the home prone to leaks and heat loss or gain (in summer, no one wants muggy air seeping in). Let Earth Day be a reminder to green up these areas of the house by doing some simple repairs. Swapping out old weather stripping and caulking around windows are two economical tasks that are relatively easy to tackle, said Lange, and will lessen the strain on HVAC systems and the electrical grid too.

5. Use An Energy Zoning System

To formulate a comfort zoning system for a home, a certified HVAC professional identifies areas in a house based on its layout, sun exposures and the amount of energy demand different areas require. The HVAC pro can then design a system that correctly distributes air through the home harmonizing comfort and energy efficiency. These systems commonly use several thermostats and adjustments to the ductwork. When paired with a smart thermostat, they can dramatically improve comfort, save customers more than 30% on their energy bill and greatly reduce a home’s greenhouse gas emissions.

“How many times in a day do we heat or cool a room no one is using? It happens all the time, and it adds up to significant energy waste, and these systems are an optimal solution,” Lange said.

6. Use Energy-Efficient Light Bulbs

If a homeowner’s finances don’t allow for major upgrades, replacing traditional incandescent light bulbs with energy-efficient LEDs is a low-cost eco-friendly decision with a big impact on the environment. Most LEDs will last up to seven years and use about 90% less power than traditional bulbs.

7. Go Solar

With some 30% in federal tax credits available to reduce the expense of a solar installation, there may never be a better time to install one on a home. Over their lifetime, these quality energy-producing systems can generate an average savings of about $60,000 and greatly reduce your home’s total carbon footprint.

“We have the best program in the country. Our experts will develop an energy savings plan that will help you get the most out of your system and show you’re making a direct positive impact on the environment,” Lange said.

For more information about tips to make a home more energy efficient, visit Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing today.