Making Cents of Energy

Is your central A/C system burning a hole through your pocket this summer? In addition to installing a more efficient unit and performing system maintenance, we can implement some HVAC installations to make your home cooling system work more efficiently and save you money on cooling costs. Additional Return Air Runs – Having additional return air runs installed solves many HVAC system airflow problems. The central air systems of many older homes were originally designed for heat-only applications, resulting in lack of return air when used for cooling. The addition of additional returns results in better air flow and lower utility bills. Additional benefits include quieter operation, increased comfort, fewer repairs and longer equipment life. Attic Ventilators – An attic ventilator assists your air conditioner in cooling your home by exhausting hot air from the attic and bringing cooler air in from outside. The air circulation provided by an attic ventilator reduces the heat load on your A/C system, allowing it to run more efficiently and cool your home better. Besides making you more comfortable, an attic ventilator will lower your utility bills. Programmable Thermostats – A programmable or digital setback thermostat allows you to save energy and money with virtually no effort. These thermostats work by allowing you to program when your system will turn on and off according to your daily or weekly schedule. This way, you can ensure that you are comfortable while at home, but that no energy – or money – is wasted while you’re away from the home. Duct Insulation – If your air ducts are not adequately insulated, your cooling equipment must compensate for heat gains by conditioning extra air, thereby raising your energy bill. Even ducts in conditioned spaces experience some heat gains and may require insulation to prevent condensation on duct walls. Once the cold season rolls around, duct insulation will help save on heating costs as well.

Our heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are responsible for a large percentage of the overall energy usage in our homes. Although there are numerous steps we can take to shore up our homes to make them more energy efficient, even slight adjustments to our thermostat settings can make a big difference. Energy Savings by Degrees If you absolutely insist upon keeping the inside of your home feeling like an ice box in the summertime and a sauna during the winter months, then you can expect your heating and air conditioning units to be working overtime year- round. You can also expect consistently high energy bills, more frequent visits from furnace and air conditioner repair personnel and a shorter lifespan for your heating and cooling equipment. However, if it is your desire to cut down on your energy usage, there are ways to accomplish this without sacrificing an inordinate amount of comfort. One method is to turn your home’s thermostat down by just a degree or two during the wintertime. You might have to throw on a sweater now and then, but the energy savings will be noticeable. The same principle applies during the warm weather months where the thermostat can be set upward just a few notches to save energy and mitigate your cooling bills. Any discernible increase in interior warmth can be offset in a number of ways, including using a few more fans, closing off unused rooms and keeping direct sunlight from penetrating into your home by shutting the blinds. Every degree you subtract when heating your home or add when cooling your home will translate into roughly one to three percent less energy usage. By making these slight adjustments, the change in your interior environment will barely be apparent. But the long-term benefits in energy savings and heating and cooling systems longevity will be significant.