We’ve covered ways to help you save energy in the past. But there’s always other things to cover. For everything you can do to waste energy, there’s another thing you can do to save energy. So don’t break your bank by making some simple, but common mistakes. Keep costs down. Control your home’s temperature. Feel more comfortable. Check out some of the energy-saving tips that you can use throughout the year.
Energy-Saving Tips for Your Thermostat
First, let’s cover some basic tips about your thermostat. Most people know that it’s cheaper to maintain a room at a certain temperature than it is to constantly heat it up or cool it down. But what about beyond that? Consider the following:
- Set your thermostat as high as comfortably possible during the summer. The less your A/C has to work, the more energy you’ll save.
- It’s a myth that your home will cool faster (or heat faster) if you set the temperature lower (or higher) than you would normally. Instead, set it to the exact temperature you desire.
- Avoid placing lamps or TVs near your thermostat. The thermostat will sense heat from these appliances, which can cause problems.
- Also, keep your thermostat out of direct sunlight.
Use Daylight Effectively
Second, this brings us to the next energy-saving tip: using daylight effectively. Please, consider the following:
- Install storm windows over your normal windows. This helps sunlight come in during the winter days, and helps keep sunlight out during the summer days.
- Get effective window treatments that utilize the right shades or drapes. A quality window treatment not only helps your home look better, but also effectively saves energy.
- In addition to a quality window treatment, close your drapes during cold nights to help seal in the heat.
Energy-Saving Tips for Appliances
Third, you can actually use your appliances to save energy! Here’s how:
- DO NOT use your oven to heat your home. If you have a gas oven, that releases carbon monoxide into the air.
- Install efficient lighting. Only about 10% to 15% of the electricity that incandescent lights consume results in light—the rest is turned into heat.
- Wash only full loads of dishes and clothes. Consider air drying both dishes and clothing.
- Take short showers instead of baths.
- Use your ceiling fans effectively.
Use Kinkaid Heating and Air Conditioning
Finally, the best energy-saving tip we can give is to use Kinkaid Heating and Air Conditioning! For all of your HVAC needs, contact us today.