大象传媒

With the celebration of Earth Day recently and spring cleaning on the minds of many homeowners, it鈥檚 a great time to make homes more earth-friendly and energy efficient. In fact, with only a few small, inexpensive changes, homeowners could be on their way to saving 20% or more on monthly energy bills. Here, the home-efficiency pros from share tips on how to start saving today.

1. Install a Smart Thermostat

A smart thermostat typically saves between 12% to 23% on an energy bill, and it鈥檚 also a great tool to reduce carbon emissions from a home. How do they do it? Smart thermostats go beyond simply programming the time of day for the system to turn on or off. Some smart thermostats are intuitive and can detect changes in consumption patterns and home activity. They can also be programmed remotely, and alert homeowners about changes that may impact their energy bill.

鈥淭his technology saves you money and also makes life easier,鈥� said 大象传媒鈥� Lisa Lange. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a low-cost way to improve energy efficiency in your home immediately.鈥�

2. Get a Heating and Cooling System Tune-up

Before the summer heat arrives, another eco-friendly move is to schedule an air-conditioning system tune-up. It will help homeowners avoid major repairs during the busy season for HVAC pros and a system that performs optimally minimizes reliance on fossil fuel energy sources.

A tune-up involves cleaning all of the system鈥檚 major components, as well as testing and making adjustments to the unit鈥檚 operating system. In addition to checking refrigerant levels and changing out air filters, the outdoor condenser should also be cleaned and inspected.

鈥淒uring your tune-up, it鈥檚 a great time to tap the expertise of an HVAC pro,鈥� said Lisa Lange. 鈥淲e encourage customers to ask about thermostat settings, when to change air filters and bring any other questions they may have about the energy efficiency of their home.鈥�

3. Add Insulation

Adding insulation to a home is a green tip that could help save up to 20% on an energy bill. In many homes, air escapes through attics, crawl spaces and basements. If a room is drafty and has trouble keeping a consistent temperature, it may be time to check attic insulation. Cold floors may also be a sign that basement insulation isn鈥檛 sufficient. All of these concerns also lead to increased energy consumption, which leads to increased carbon emissions.

鈥淢any homeowners are surprised when they learn their home is under-insulated, but it鈥檚 actually quite common,鈥� said Lange. 鈥淭he good news is that, just like a smart thermostat, you can see the utility cost savings from this decision very quickly. You will also take comfort in knowing that you are helping improve our environment through reduced emissions.

4. Make Sure the House Is Airtight

Windows, ductwork, light sockets and weather stripping around doors are all areas of the home prone to leaks and heat loss or gain (in summer, no one wants steamy air seeping in). Let Earth Day be a reminder to green up these areas of the house by making some simple repairs. Replacing old weather stripping and caulking around windows are two inexpensive tasks that are relatively easy to tackle, said Lange, and will lessen the load on HVAC systems and the electrical grid too.

5. Consider An Energy Zoning System

To develop a comfort zoning system for a home, a certified HVAC professional identifies zones in a house based on its layout, sun exposures and the amount of energy demand different areas have. The HVAC pro can then design a system that properly distributes air throughout the home balancing comfort and energy efficiency. These systems often involve multiple thermostats and adjustments to the ductwork. When coupled with a smart thermostat, they can dramatically improve comfort, save customers more than 30% on their energy bill and greatly reduce a home鈥檚 greenhouse gas emissions.

鈥淗ow many times in a day do we heat or cool a room no one is using? It happens all the time, and it adds up to significant energy waste, and these systems are an optimal solution,鈥� Lange said.

6. Buy Energy-Efficient Light Bulbs

If a homeowner鈥檚 budget doesn鈥檛 allow for major upgrades, replacing traditional incandescent light bulbs with energy-efficient LEDs is a low-cost eco-friendly decision with a big impact on the environment. Most LEDs will last up to seven years and use about 90% less energy than traditional bulbs.

7. Go Solar

With up to 30% in federal tax credits available to bring down the cost of a solar installation, there may never be a better time to install one on a home. Over their lifetime, these quality energy-producing systems can produce an average savings of about $60,000 and greatly reduce a homeowner鈥檚 overall carbon footprint.

鈥淲e have the best program in the country. Our experts will develop an energy savings plan that will help you get the most out of your system and show you鈥檙e making a direct positive impact on the environment,鈥� Lange said.

To learn more about how to make a home more energy efficient, visit 大象传媒 Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing today.