Save money and save the environment – these are two goals that households can achieve by making changes with their energy consumption. More and more families these days are taking a proactive approach to being more environmentally responsible as far as energy consumption is concerned. They understand that there are just so many benefits to be enjoyed by going green, and overall, they see these lifestyle alterations as improvements for the better.
To save energy, attention should be directed toward the biggest energy-guzzlers in the household, two of which are the heating and cooling units. When seasons change, every household tries to maintain an ideal temperature inside the house to ensure the family members’ comfort level, and they rely on air conditioners and heaters for this. But despite the frequent need to use these, there are smart ways for households to still save on heating and air conditioning expenses. These strategies make sure that even if the heating and cooling units are used often, they are functioning properly and not using more energy than they need to. Provided below are other effective tips that a lot of households should definitely implement.
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- For heating, upgrading your home’s insulation can significantly lower your energy consumption. Professionals recommend improving the insulation in walls and the attic with spray foam insulation. Today’s upgraded spray foam insulation has double the R-value of conventional battery insulation; therefore, it’s more resistant to heat flow and can retain the right temperature inside your home better.
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- Alternate electric heating with organic heating more often. Make use of the furnace you have at home and channel your inner Tasha Tudor and rely on wood to heat up the house. If you’re worried about the smoke and soot, get experts in furnace repair. San Jose professionals can fix your furnace or fireplace in such a way that smoke is directed away from your house and soot can easily be contained within the furnace.
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- This applies to both heating and cooling: Make sure that rooms are properly sealed so no cooled or heated air escapes. Air leaks usually prompt heating and cooling units to work harder and use more energy.
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- To help out air conditioners that cool rooms, it’s better to run heat-producing appliances at night over the summer. The dishwasher, washing machine, iron and dryers emit a lot of heat which would push the AC to work double time to achieve the right temperature for the room.
- Clean the AC’s filters every month and change the filters every quarter because clogged or dirty filters affect the efficiency of the unit and can also shorten its life span.
