Make Sure Your Home is Prepped to Save Energy this Summer
With another hot, humid season on the way, now’s the perfect time to make some energy efficiency preparations around the home to increase comfort and reduce energy consumption. These summer energy saving tips can help you get started.
Book an energy audit – A professional energy audit can provide an in-depth look at your home’s efficiency to help you determine where to make strategic improvements. You may learn that you need to augment attic insulation, or seal the home’s envelope to stop conditioned air losses.
Get the ductwork sealed – Having a pro seal the joins and insulate ducting in unconditioned areas like the attic or basement can help prevent the loss of up to 30 percent of the A/C’s output.
Have a programmable thermostat installed – Choose one that matches your HVAC equipment and weekly schedule, and program it around your daily routine. By setting 10- to 15-degree temperature setbacks for eight hours or more a day, you can save energy without any loss of comfort.
Reduce heat gain through the windows – Add energy efficient curtains, shades or blinds and close them during the day to limit heat gain and reduce the air conditioner’s cooling load.
Turn on your ceiling fans – Make sure the blades are set to spin counter-clockwise and you’ll feel a cooling wind chill effect. This boost in comfort can let you program in thermostat temperature setting increases of about four degrees to save on energy consumption.
Don’t add to the cooling system’s workload – Cook in the microwave or outdoors on the grill instead of using the oven. Hang dry laundry to take advantage of free solar heat instead of using the clothes dryer, and let clean dishes air dry instead of hitting the “heated dry” cycle on the dishwasher.
Help your A/C work efficiently – Schedule professional air conditioner maintenance before the weather heats up to ensure your cooling system is operating efficiently. To maintain maximum efficiency throughout the summer, check the air filter monthly and replace it as needed.
To learn more summer energy saving tips, contact the Cincinnati home comfort experts at Apollo Home Heating, Cooling and Plumbing.