How You Can Help Increase Energy Efficiency at Home

We can all benefit from saving money here and there. One of the simplest ways to accomplish this is by improving energy efficiency throughout your home. Upgrading your HVAC equipment or adding a smart thermostat, for example, offers more control over your HVAC equipment, contributing to a more energy-efficient home and lower monthly energy bills.  

Keep reading to learn more about 4 ways you can make energy-efficient home changes. 

 1. Install Smart Home Products Like a Smart Thermostat  

If you still use an older thermostat and access it manually, try taking a step toward the future by installing a smart, or Wi-Fi, thermostat – which comes with several features to improve your home's energy efficiency. 

The feature homeowners enjoy the most is having the capability to control their smart thermostats from anywhere they want with their smartphone or other smart device. For example, if you forget to adjust your thermostat before going on vacation, you can easily pull out your smartphone and make the necessary adjustment.  

Like a programmable thermostat, a smart thermostat permits you to pre-set your home’s temperature determined by the time of day and day of the week so you’re not spending energy on an empty house. Smart thermostats also feature the capacity to watch your temperature preferences over time and automatically make energy-efficient modifications. They also create monthly energy reports that show how much energy you’re using and when so you can make changes to cut costs.  

If you’re curious about how to get a free smart thermostat, talk to your utility company to see if there are any discounts or free smart thermostats available to you. 

2. Routine HVAC Maintenance 

Sadly, lots of homeowners often forget about having their heating and cooling systems maintained. While this does not seem important, inadequate maintenance will sometimes lead to a number of issues, including inefficiency, breakdowns, and a shorter system lifespan. 

With an HVAC maintenance service, the technician will examine your HVAC system, clean necessary components, and identify minor problems before they produce bigger, more expensive repair issues. Tune ups keep HVAC systems functioning at optimal condition, which means less energy is needed to heat and cool your home. This will lower your energy bills, increase the lifespan of HVAC equipment, and contribute to fewer repairs. 

We suggest two HVAC tune ups every year – one during the spring before summer and one in the fall before the arrival of winter weather. 

3. Upgrading Your Old, Inefficient HVAC Equipment 

Annoyingly, like any appliance, HVAC systems don't last forever and eventually need to be replaced. Modern heaters and cooling systems are much more effective than models sold just over a decade ago. Thankfully, helpful HVAC companies like Northwest Services can offer professional services such as furnace installation in Swanton.  

Well-maintained furnaces and air conditioners can run for approximately 15-20 years. If your systems are within that timeframe, it is often be a good idea to replace them early to prevent premature equipment failures that can leave you cold and uncomfortable if it’s a cold winter night. If your HVAC system is around 15 years old and has a problem that needs an expensive repair, it’s almost always time to replace the unit. Per the U.S. Department of Energy, upgrading to a new HVAC system can save you approximately 20-40% on your monthly energy bills, so you’ll get back some of the costs of buying a new system. 

 A professional comfort technician can help you find the most energy efficient HVAC system available. For the most part, try to find HVAC systems that are Energy Star certified, indicating the equipment fulfills rigid guidelines made by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. LENNOX HVAC systems can be some of the most efficient systems around, featuring both high AFUE and SEER ratings. AFUE is used for heating systems and illustrates how well they convert fuel to heat. SEER, in the meantime, is used to quantify the efficiency of cooling systems.  

Get in touch with a reputable HVAC provider like Northwest Services for air conditioning installation in Swanton. 

 4. Switch to More High Efficiency Air Filters 

If you’re searching for new HVAC filters, consider that not all air filters are created equally. Certain air filters are far more effective than others, contributing to lower energy bills and a cleaner home environment. 

The effectiveness of HVAC air filters is rated by their Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value, or MERV rating. The MERV scale ranges from 1-20; the higher the number, the more effective the filters are. It’s important to note, though, that high-efficiency air filters can actually obstruct airflow too much depending on the type of HVAC system you have. It’s important to read the owner’s manual before buying a filter to determine the right one for your system.