4 Ways to Help Increase Energy Efficiency at Home

We can all benefit from saving money from time to time. One of the easiest ways to accomplish this is by making some energy-efficient changes throughout your home. Upgrading your HVAC system or installing a smart thermostat, for example, provides more control over your HVAC equipment, resulting in a more energy-efficient home and more affordable monthly energy bills.  

Continue below to learn about 4 ways you can make energy-efficient home enhancements. 

 1. Look for Smart Home Products Like a Smart Thermostat  

If you still use an older thermostat and adjust it manually, think about taking a step toward the future by installing a smart, or Wi-Fi, thermostat – which comes with a number of features to make your home more energy efficient. 

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

Similar to a programmable thermostat, a smart thermostat permits you to schedule 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 capability to watch your temperature preferences over time and automatically make energy-efficient corrections. They can even generate monthly energy reports that demonstrate how much energy you are using and when so you can make adjustments to cut costs.  

If you’re wanting to know how to get a free smart thermostat, check with your utility company to find out if there are any discounts or free smart thermostats available. 

2. Routine HVAC Maintenance 

Unfortunately, some homeowners often forget about having their heating and cooling systems maintained. While this may not seem important, inadequate maintenance could lead to a number of issues, including inefficiency, breakdowns, and a shorter system lifespan. 

With an HVAC maintenance service, a heating and cooling technician should evaluate your HVAC system, clean necessary components, and catch minor problems before they lead to bigger, more expensive repair issues. Maintenance keeps HVAC systems working at optimal condition, which means less energy is needed to heat and cool your home. This could also lower your energy bills, increase the lifespan of HVAC equipment, and lead to fewer repairs. 

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

3. Upgrading Your Old, Inefficient HVAC Equipment 

Regretfully, like all appliances, HVAC systems have a shelf life and inevitably need to be replaced. New heaters and cooling systems are much more effective than units sold just over 10 years ago. Thankfully, local HVAC companies like Scott Temperature can offer professional services such as furnace installation in Lawrence.  

Well-maintained furnaces and air conditioners can live approximately 15-20 years. If your system is within that span, it is often be a good idea to replace them ahead of time to minimize the risk of premature equipment failure that can leave you cold and uncomfortable on a cold winter night. If your HVAC system is about 15 years old and requires an expensive repair, it’s definitely time to replace it. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, installing a new HVAC system could save you approximately 20-40% on your monthly energy bills, so you’ll recover some of the costs of installing a new system. 

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

Call a reputable HVAC provider like Scott Temperature for air conditioning installation in Lawrence. 

 4. Use High Efficiency Air Filters 

If you’re looking for new HVAC filters, consider that not all air filters are capable of providing the same results. Specific air filters are far more efficient than others, resulting in lower energy bills and cleaner indoor air. 

The effectiveness of HVAC air filters is scored by their Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value, or MERV rating. The MERV scale ranges between 1-20; the higher the number, the more efficient the filters are. It’s worthwhile to note, though, that high-efficiency air filters can actually obstruct airflow too much according to the type of HVAC system you installed. It’s worthwhile to review the owner’s manual before purchasing a filter to find the ideal model for your system.