For the most part, energy costs aren’t getting any cheaper. The good news is that there are a number of great ways to save energy – and money – before winter winds to a close. To get you started, here are some great tips you should follow:
- Switch out your lightbulbs – If you’re still using traditional light bulbs, you’re wasting energy, no matter what season it is. Replace as many as you can with compact fluorescent ones, which use a fraction of the energy.
- Install a progammable thermostat – Heating costs during the winter can be outrageous. An effective way to keep these costs under control is to install a programmable thermostat in your home. This device allows you to set the times at which your HVAC equipment turns on and off, so you’re not fully heating or cooling an empty house.
- Bundle up – We have a tendency to turn to our furnace every time the air gets even slightly cold. If it’s bearable, bundle up with blankets or a sweater.
- Install a zoning system – If you have a traditional forced-air heating setup, you have no choice but to heat up your entire home, even when only one or two rooms are occupied. This can lead to a big waste of energy and money. With a zoning system, you can set up “zones” in your room and target heating only in the areas where it’s actually needed.
- Change the filters – If the filters in your furnace system aren’t changed on a regular basis, the system’s efficiency will be reduced, adding to your energy costs as the equipment works harder to keep you warm.
- Check your insulation – Proper insulation is essential if you hope to stop heat loss to the outside. If you’re not confident about your ability to install the right type of insulation, consult a professional HVAC technician, who can help you get it right.
For further assistance with learning how to save energy, or for questions regarding home comfort, please contact the heating and cooling experts at Jackson & Sons Heating and Air Conditioning. We’ve been serving the needs of eastern North Carolina since 1974.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Eastern North Carolina (including Wayne, Johnston, Greene, Lenoir, and Duplin Counties) about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about saving energy and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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