HVAC Tips : Save Energy During The Winter

When your power bill arrives, make note of how much of the cost belongs to your heating and cooling equipment. You will notice that about half of the expenses are caused by heaters, air conditioners, and ventilation because these equipment are essential to our everyday comfort. You will need to enforce some power-saving hacks in your home or office in order to maintain the level of comfort you enjoy while doing your day-to-day tasks. The power-saving HVAC tips below can help you start saving every during the winter.

#1 – Invest on a programmable thermostat

This might be the only piece of new equipment you need to purchase in to ensure the optimal use of electricity in your home or office. A programmable thermostat can automatically alter the room temperature when you are asleep or away. If you do not want to purchase a programmable thermostat, you can manually set your thermostat to 68° and your HVAC system will automatically consume less energy. If you will be gone for more than an hour, you can turn down your thermostat by 5° to lessen the consumption of power. You should also do this before you go to bed. By simply following this step, you could save up to $100 on your electricity bill per year.

#2 – Clean all your filters regularly

Be sure to check your heat pump filter or your furnace filter at least once in every two weeks. Make sure there are no clumps of dirt obstructing the airflow. When airflow is reduced, your heater will have to put in double the work, which in turn also increases the cost on your power bill. You should replace your filters once a month to ensure zero obstructions on airflow. Following this step can save you up to 5% on your annual bill, which can amount to $35-$50 in savings.

#3 – Use cold water for your washer

Using cold water for your washing machine will reduce the amount of energy needed by the machine. This simple step can give you up to $30-$40 savings in a year.

#4 – Choose CFL bulbs

Compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs are the most energy efficient light bulbs available in the market today. They’re priced slightly higher than the regular light bulb, however, just one bulb can give you up to $40 energy savings.

#5 – Don’t skip weather-stripping your home

To fully take advantage of all these power-saving tips, you must not forget to weatherize your home. Even if you are diligent in doing the other steps, just one unsealed hole can drain all of your power savings and even rack up a higher bill. Weatherizing your home or office can even save you 10% more on your heating and cooling consumption. So make sure to seal all holes, cracks and gaps along doors and the entire structure of your home or building.

#6 – Keep your water heater tank insulated

Placing a water heater blanket over your tank will help keep it insulated. A well-insulated tank will use less energy to keep the water in the tank warm, which will then lead to up to $20-$30 energy savings in a year. The amount you will save is more than enough to cover the cost of a water heater blanket, so there really is no excuse not to do this simple step.

#7 – Consult with an HVAC team

If following these simple steps on your own can already amass $250 in energy savings per year, just think of how much more you can save if you can keep your entire office optimized. Consult with a professional HVAC team to completely double-check the systems installed so all of them are running in the most cost-effective way possible. Level One HVAC has over 15 years of experience in the commercial heating and cooling field. Contact us today at 248-486-6500 or use our On-line Contact Form and one of our friendly staff will be in touch shortly.

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