How听You Can听Maintain听an听Energy-Efficient Home
Living in an energy-efficient home is all about听cultivating听your perfect idea听of comfort,听saving on utility bills, and听helping the environment. A few听simple adjustments听around the house are all it takes to听hit听your energy efficiency goals.听Consider听the most common听forms of residential energy waste听in the average North American home and听what's available to听fix them.
A New HVAC System
Heating听补苍诲听cooling听make up听over half of the energy听consumption听in most homes.听Once听your HVAC system is听outdated, it may have to听stay on longer听补苍诲听expend more energy听to听maintain a comfortable indoor temperature.听Oversized units听are also a听common issue, as they听may start听short cycling,听leading to听unstable temperatures, poor听control over humidity levels听and added strain听on the system. Then,听air duct leaks听waste more energy forcing your system to听use more energy听to听meet comfort levels.
The fix:听Install听a properly sized听energy-efficient听HVAC system and have听your ducts听tested for efficiency.听After,听set up听preventive maintenance听to keep the system听running at its peak听for years to come.听Consider adding a programmable thermostat.听Installing听one听helps you control听temperatures more precisely based on your schedule, so you don’t听use any excess energy to maintain temperatures听when you’re听not at home.
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Older听incandescent bulbs are听notorious听energy wasters. In fact, they听tend to produce more heat than light, which isn’t just听inefficient—it also听puts more strain on your AC.
The fix:听Upgrade to听LED bulbs, which听need much less power听补苍诲听last far longer.听Additionally,听don't forget听to听turn off the lights听when you听exit the room.听And for good measure,听unplug any electronic devices听when听they're not in use. For听even more听savings,听explore smart lighting options听to听control your lights and gadgets remotely.
Old, Leaking听Doors and Windows
Damaged听windows and doors听let heat escape听in the winter and听let in heat during the warmer months. In听either of these situations, your HVAC system is听forced to work overtime.
The fix:听If听you can't replace all the windows now,听apply听caulk and weatherstripping听around doors and windows to听seal drafts.听Once听you’re听prepared to invest in new windows, go for听multi-pane, low-emissivity (low-E)-coated windows. These听windows听reduce energy loss听by听creating an insulating air barrier听between the inside and outside of your home.
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Older听refrigerators, dishwashers and washing machines听consume higher power levels听than听energy-efficient alternatives.听Poor maintenance practices听will sometimes听make things even worse.
The fix:听Operate your appliances with efficiency in mind. This听includes听waiting until the dishwasher is full to run it,听choosing cold water temperatures for clothes听补苍诲听not overpacking the dryer. In fact, you should听air-dry clothes whenever possible. As for听your refrigerator听and freezer,听remove debris from the coils for optimal performance. And when it’s time to听get new appliances, look for听ENERGY STAR¨-rated models. They’re听able听to听use less energy听without听compromising quality.
Water Heaters
Your plumbing's听old听water heater is a听big energy consumer,听particularly when听it’s听kept at excessive temperatures听or is听even oversized for your household's needs. Water heaters also听lose heat听through听uninsulated pipes, adding unnecessary costs to your听monthly expenses.
The fix:听Learn about the benefits of听installing听a听tankless water heater, which听provides hot water on demand. If听that's not听an option,听wrap your water heater and pipes with insulation for better efficiency,听adjust the thermostat to 120 degrees听补苍诲听don't听overlook听water heater maintenance.
Lacking Enough听Insulation
If your home's听attic, walls and听flooring听lack sufficient insulation, you’re听most likely听wasting energy, not to mention money.听Effective听insulation keeps heat听in during the winter听补苍诲听keeps hot summer air outside, so听your听HVAC system听doesn't have听to听run overtime.
The fix:听Add insulation听to听your听attic,听a prime spot for adding more.听You have听several different听types of insulation to听choose from,听including听fiberglass batts,听blown-in cellulose听补苍诲听foam-based options.听Working with a certified contractor听is听almost always听worth it for the听added experience听补苍诲听proper installation.
Install Systems Compatible with听Solar Energy
If you’re听looking to REALLY enhance your home energy savings,听it's worth considering听investing in听solar power.听Photovoltaic panels cover daytime needs听while听a connected battery bank听saves power for nighttime use听and on stormy days. While听solar听systems听require an initial investment, are听offered听to听help reduce some of the expense.
Maximize听Comfort and Energy Efficiency
天美传媒 can听help you achieve听a听more energy-efficient home. Our听ACE-certified technicians听provide听fast, long-lasting solutions听that听keep your HVAC, plumbing and electrical听systems听running at their peak.听Thanks to听our听天美传媒 Guarantee, you can听count on us to meet your service needs听the first time. To听set up a meeting, please听contact us听today.
