Most of us agree that minimizing our impact on the environment is a good thing. If you’re looking to do your part and shrink your environmental footprint, consider the following energy- and resource-saving tips.
- Air leak sealing. Most homes, old and new, have many air leaks. These air leaks allow warm air to infiltrate in the summer and escape in the winter. Leaks make your HVAC system work harder to keep your home comfortable, wasting a significant amount of energy. You can seal air leaks cheaply with caulking and weatherstripping yourself, or have a professional do a more comprehensive job.
- Minimize hot water waste. Wasting hot water is one of the most common forms of energy loss in a home. Don’t take long showers and don’t rinse dishes off before putting them in your dishwasher. Turn the water heater down to 120 degrees F, which is plenty warm enough for the great majority of household tasks.
- Smart thermostat use. While simply turning up your thermostat a few degrees will make a large difference in your energy use, you may sacrifice comfort. By installing a programmable thermostat, you can reduce your energy use when you’re not home, and be comfortable when you are.
- Insulate your home. Insulation keeps your home cool for longer in the summer and warm for longer in the winter. It delays the point at which your HVAC equipment has to kick on to cool or warm your home, saving energy and helping preserve the environment. The attic is an easy place to insulate and has the most payoff in terms of potential energy savings.
The above energy- and resource-saving tips can help you contribute to preserving the environment, one home at a time. If you need assistance with any of the above in the Troy or Staunton areas, please contact us at Ernst Heating & Cooling.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Hamel, Alton, Glen Carbon, Highland, Greenville, Bethalto, Edwardsville, Collinsville, Maryville, Staunton and Troy, Illinois about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about energy and other HVAC topics, visit our blog.
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