How can I lower my monthly Energy Bill?
- Shade your room air conditioner from direct sun. This will reduce its workload. Clean the filters monthly and replace as necessary to save energy and reduce dust and pollen in the air. Lower the setting when you go out to reduce operating costs.
- Vacuum air vents, baseboard heaters and radiators regularly to remove dust that reduces heating efficiency. Move furniture, carpet or curtains that restrict their operation. If your baseboard heaters have movable deflectors or vents, open them in the winter and close them in the summer.
- Schedule annual tune-ups for your heat pump, furnace or boiler. Check to see if your utility company provides this service.
- Hire a professional to seal and insulate leaky ducts, and to ensure that the airflow distribution system serving your heating or cooling equipment is operating at peak efficiency.
- Check your attic, attic stairway, attached garage walls and basement to ensure that you have proper insulation between conditioned and unconditioned spaces.
- Open your foundation vents each spring if your home has a crawl space under it. Close the vents in the winter.
- Prune back shrubs that may block airflow to your air conditioner or heat pump.
- Consider installing ceiling fans. The air circulation promotes cooling in the summer and heating efficiency in the winter.
How can I be sure energy efficiency claims are not just sales hype?
- Ask your builder, installer or home supply outlet about the EnergyGuide label and the fact sheets or product directories for each system you’re considering.
- Compare the energy efficiencies and operating costs of competing models.
- Consider both the purchase price and estimated operating costs when you decide what to buy.
Why should I care about energy efficiency?
The purchase price, the cost of repairs and maintenance, and the cost to operate it. The more energy efficient an appliance is, the less it costs to run and the lower your utility bills. Using less energy is good for the environment, too; it can reduce air pollution and help conserve natural resources.
What makes one system more efficient than another?
Most of the differences are on the inside — in the motors, compressors, pumps and valves.
So even if two models look the same from the outside, these less-obvious features can mean a big difference in your monthly utility bills.
