Reduce Home Energy Costs Without Compromising Comfort

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the average American home spends about $121 a month on utility bills. Cooling and heating account for more than half (and upwards of 70 percent) of this cost.

That number can fluctuate greatly depending on the climate where you live and the size of your home. Your monthly energy bills are also greatly affected by how efficient your home is.

Most people do not give much thought to reducing home energy use because they do not want to sacrifice comfort. However, there are some ways you can chip away at energy usage without making any noticeable changes to the climate inside your home.

Below are some easy energy-saving tips to follow. They will help you save money and lessen your carbon footprint.

Make Home Upgrades

Making your home more energy efficient is one of the best ways to lower utility costs. Also, it is a long-term solution with benefits that will be realized immediately.

There are myriad ways to do this, but sealing ductwork and adding attic insulation are two simple ones. If you have very old windows, you might consider upgrading them.

Finding out where you are unnecessarily wasting energy is an important component of this. Many companies offer a home energy audit, which is a great way to break down the potential savings you can get from each improvement project.

Maintain Your HVAC System

Ensuring that your entire HVAC system is running as efficiently as possible is one of the best ways to save money without affecting comfort. Changing filters or scheduling routine maintenance can catch leaks or inefficiencies that make your system work harder than it needs. Addressing such issues will ensure that your AC is using as little energy as possible while prolonging its lifespan.

Install a Smart Thermostat

A smart thermostat is an easy way to cut energy waste and get the most out of your HVAC operations. These allow you to set schedules and automatically switch to more eco-friendly temperatures when it detects (using your smartphone) that no one is home. They also are a great way to monitor temperature levels in different parts of your house.

Smart thermostats also make use of functions that already exist in most HVAC systems--to optimize comfort while saving energy. For instance, they will use your system's fans to push cool or warm air throughout your home even after the units shut off.

Establish Good Habits

Beyond keeping doors closed as much as possible--especially on very hot or cold days--there are some other basic chores you can do to save money without sacrificing comfort. During summer months, keep window blinds, or curtains closed at night to retain heat. In winter months, make sure they are open during the day to let warmth from the sun in.

You can save a lot of money during the spring and fall as well by employing a few simple habits. For instance, leave windows open during temperate nights, or open them early in the morning to let cool air in (before the heat of the day). Making the most out of outdoor air offsets the amount of air conditioning your HVAC system has to do. 

Get More Home Energy Tips

Now that you know some ways to reduce your home energy costs without sacrificing comfort, you can start saving money. Conserving energy is a great way to help the environment and lower your electric bill.

At Energy Plus Home Improvements, our certified crew has more than 200 years of cumulative experience in home improvement and energy efficiency. We pride ourselves on offering quality products and work at fair prices. Reach out to us today for a free estimate.