Between 50-70% of a home's energy is used on heating and cooling. While a good portion of this effort goes toward heating water for dishes, clothes, and showers, regulating a home's temperature eats up much of the energy bill. This article offers solutions in the form of products, practice, and maintenance.
Smart HVAC Products
Programmable Thermostats
Programmable thermostats have the quickest return on invest, sometimes as fast as two months. These particular devices allow you to set the thermostat to raise or lower the temperature when you leave the house, then make it nice again, just before you walk back through the door. This product will keep you from heating or cooling your home too much while you're not there or asleep, which can save a bundle depending on how much you are currently wasting.
Energy Star HVAC Units
The energy star rating ensures that the product will perform above a certain efficiency standard, thus guaranteeing an energy savings. Energy Star HVAC units will save 20% on energy costs over the next brand. They are sure money savers and a great investment in a home that needs constant heat or air. Click this link if you want to read on about other energy star appliances.
Money Saving HVAC Ideas
If you don't have an Energy Star or energy efficient heating and cooling system, then there are a few things you can do to your home to help keep the heating and cooling costs down.
Install door sweeps on all entry and exit doors. This will significantly reduce—if not stop altogether—free air flow under the bottoms of doors.
Caulk around the windows during the spring or fall. Summer and winter are poor times to caulk because the temperature is so extreme that once the temperature heads in another direction, the caulking will either expand out of its intended cavity or contract so much that it can't do its job. Caulking is a smart, energy saver that can cost next to nothing.
Upgrading your insulation is a great return on investment, especially if there are areas in your home that have no insulation at all, such as in the basement and the attic.
Want to save some money. Click this link, and at no cost to you, you can get matched to any of our prescreened pros who can make your home an energy efficient home.
Money Saving HVAC Practices
Closing off areas of your house that you don't use regularly is a wise way to control energy usage. Close the vents and doors to exercise rooms, laundry rooms, guest bedrooms. There is no sense heating or cooling a portion of the home that you don't use.
Be careful not to run the dishwasher or dryer during the hottest parts of the day, as your air conditioning unit will have to work overtime to bring the temperature back down to level. This can be a likewise savvy idea during the winter to help heat the home.
Turn the heat down to 60 when you leave the house during the day. The few minutes of cold that you will have to bear when you return home are worth the 8+ hour savings in your daily heating bill. In the summer, pick the same temperature or even turn the A/C completely off when you leave, as there are no problems that will arise from having it off. However, never turn your heat off during the winter. That's how pipes freeze and break.
Matt Myers is a freelance writer for the home maintenance and remodeling industry. Formerly a contractor specializing in deck building and casework, Matt has written over 500 articles for both homeowners and contractors.
© Copyright 1999-2008, ServiceMagic, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Digg 
Reddit
Del.icio.us
