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

With the celebration of Earth Day a few weeks ago and spring cleaning on the minds of countless homeowners, it’s the perfect time to make homes more earth-friendly and energy efficient. The fact is, with only a few small, inexpensive changes, homeowners could be on their way to saving 20% or more on monthly energy expenses. Here, the home-efficiency specialists from share tricks on how to start saving right now.

1. Use a Smart Thermostat

A smart thermostat typically saves between 12% to 23% on a power bill, and it’s also a great tool to cut down on carbon emissions from a home. How is that possible? Smart thermostats do more than just programming the time of day for your HVAC system to turn on or off. Some smart thermostats are intuitive and can identify changes in consumption patterns and home activity. They can also be programmed from another location, and can be programmed to send a notification to homeowners about changes that may cause a major increase to their energy bill.

“This technology saves you money and also makes life easier,” stated 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 starts, another eco-friendly move is to schedule an air-conditioning system tune-up. This will help homeowners avoid costly repairs during the busy season for HVAC technicians 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, plus 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 examined.

“During your tune-up, it’s a great time to tap the expertise of an HVAC pro,” noted 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

Installing insulation in a home is an earth-friendly tip that could help save up to 20% on an energy bill. In many homes, air escapes through attics, crawl spaces and basements. If a room is drafty and has difficulty maintaining a consistent temperature, it may be time to check attic insulation. Cold floors could also be a sign that basement insulation isn’t satisfactory. All of these worries also lead to increased energy consumption, which leads to elevated 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 Your Residence Is Airtight

Windows, ductwork, light sockets and weather stripping around doors are all places in the home susceptible to leaks and heat loss or gain (in summer, no one wants muggy air seeping in). Let Earth Day be a cue to green up these areas of the house by embarking on some easy repairs. Upgrading old weather stripping and caulking around windows are two low-cost tasks that are reasonably easy to tackle, said Lange, and will lower the load on HVAC systems and the electrical grid too.

5. Use An Energy Zoning System

To develop a comfort zoning system for a home, a certified HVAC specialist identifies zones in a house based on its layout, sun exposures and the amount of energy demand different areas have. The HVAC pro can then design a system that correctly distributes air through the home weighing comfort and energy efficiency. These systems usually utilize numerous thermostats and adjustments to the ductwork. When joined with a smart thermostat, they can substantially improve comfort, save customers more than 30% on their energy bill and seriously 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. Buy Energy-Efficient Light Bulbs

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

7. Use Solar Energy

With up to 30% in federal tax credits available to lower the price 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 produce an average savings of about $60,000 and greatly reduce a household’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.

To find out more about how to make a home more energy efficient, visit Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing today.