Thermostat
Set the thermostat back by 7-10° F at night or when you’re away for at least eight hours and you can potentially save 10% on your heating costs.
Set your home’s heating and cooling system to work around your schedule with a programmable thermostat. This simple change can provide household comfort, real energy savings and lower your energy bills.
Heating
Maximize your furnace’s efficiency. Check the filter and change each month or according to manufacturer specifications.
Consider replacing your existing heating system if any of the following are true:
- Your heating system is more than 15 years old
- The system is broken and repairs would cost more than half the cost of replacing it
- The heating system is very inefficient.
Have a professional tune up your HVAC system
Have a contractor do annual pre-season check-ups on your heating and cooling system in the spring and fall to keep your system at peak performance and prevent future problems. Ask your contractor to inspect your duct system for leaks too.
Check air registers for optimal performance
Make sure the connections at vents and registers are well-sealed where they meet the floors, walls, and ceilings. These are common areas for air leaks and disconnected ductwork. Also make sure vents are clear of blockages such as furniture or rugs to improve air flow and comfort. Leaky ducts can reduce heating and cooling system efficiency by as much as 20%.
Water Heating
Reducing the temperature setting helps you save energy because water heating accounts for approximately 20% of the average home’s energy use. Set your water temperature to less than 120° F for energy efficiency and to prevent scalding.
Showering accounts for about 40% of your home’s hot water use. Of all the energy used for water heating, 9% is lost moving hot water from the tank to your shower heads and faucets (even more in large houses). Insulating hot water pipes will reduce the amount of energy lost.
Get free, easy-to-install energy-saving shower heads and faucet aerators to lower your energy costs and reduce your hot water use without sacrificing comfort.
Air Sealing
Air leaks are among the greatest sources of energy loss in a home. One of the quickest energy- and money-saving tasks you can do is caulk, seal, and weatherstrip all seams, cracks, and openings to the outside. By sealing uncontrolled air leaks, you can save 10%–20% on your heating and cooling bills
