HEATING & COOLING: Take Your Home's Temperature
No matter where you live, keeping your house warm (or cool) costs money. The Department of Energy says heating or cooling your house or apartment typically eats up 56% of your utility bill. If you’re interested in shaving dollars off your utility bills, it’s good to know there are ways to save money all year round.
Start saving with a home energy audit. An audit is like taking your home’s temperature. It can help you find out where you’re wasting energy and check how well your heating and cooling systems work. You can use the do-it-yourself energy audit tool on the Department of Energy website at hes.lbl.gov. Check with your power company to see if they offer free or low-cost audits. If you want a more comprehensive audit, you can hire a specialist.
UTILITY ROOM ENERGY SAVERS
Here’s how you can get smart about energy for your heating and cooling systems.
- Schedule an annual tune-up for your central air conditioner, heat pump, or furnace.
- Hire a professional to seal and insulate leaky ducts and to make sure that the airflow distribution system serving your heating equipment is operating efficiently.
- Clean or replace the filters on forced-air furnaces; seal flues in the fireplaces you don’t use; install drapes or other coverings on your windows; and seal holes around your plumbing and heating pipes.
- Check caulking and weatherstripping, and repair if necessary.
- Close any foundation vents in the winter and open them in the summer (if you have a crawl space under your house).
- Install ceiling fans. They’ll cool you off in the summer and promote heating efficiency in the winter.
- Consider a “whole-house” fan. In the summer, it circulates cool air through the house and vents warm air through the attic. It works best at night and when the air outside is cooler than inside.
- Install a computerized thermostat that will automatically lower the indoor temperature at night and when you’re away from home.
Going Shopping
Furnaces and air conditioners are important to your comfort and safety. Whether you’re buying a new house, renovating an old one, or replacing an old system, choosing energy-efficient equipment can save you money.
When you go shopping for a new furnace, heat pump, air conditioner, or water heater, the price tag tells only part of the story. Before you buy, read the EnergyGuide label on that new furnace to find out how energy efficient it is. Then compare it to the label on another model and brand. EnergyGuide labels show how much energy one model uses in comparison with others. Although some high-efficiency appliances may cost more at the outset, they can save money by lowering your energy bills.
For more on using EnergyGuide labels, read EnergyGuidance: Appliance Shopping With the EnergyGuide Label.
Don't Get Burned
When energy prices rise, so do the number of ads for energy-saving products and services. Some of these ads are for gadgets and gimmicks that can’t deliver big energy savings. Look carefully at the claims and check for independent information about product performance. Don’t fall for unsolicited or high-pressure sales pitches from contractors or door-to-door salespeople. Make sure to ask friends and neighbors for their recommendations. Check out contractors with former customers and the Better Business Bureau. You can also check with the state or local consumer protection office and the state licensing agency (or home improvement commission). If you sign a contract in your home or somewhere other than a company’s permanent place of business, the FTC’s “Cooling-Off Rule” gives you three business days to cancel.
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