J&K Heating & Air Energy Saving Tips
Cooling
- Repair and weatherstrip air leaks in the home; about 10-25% the of energy used to cool homes escapes via leaks.
- Increase your attic insulation if the joists are showing.
- Install a programmable thermostat; set it higher when you are away.
- When you’re home, set your thermostat to 78 degrees.
- Install ceiling fans to circulate cool air throughout the house.
- Shade your windows with light-colored shades to reflect heat.
- Close draperies and shades on south-facing windows to block sunlight and heat during the day.
- Install awnings on windows that get excessive sun in the late afternoon.
Heating
- Have your furnace and ductwork inspected annually. Loose, broken AC ductwork accounts for 15-35% of a home’s energy loss.
- Change furnace filters every month.
- Caulk, seal, and weatherstrip openings from your home to the outside.
- Increase your attic insulation if the joists are showing.
- Repair and weatherstrip air leaks in the home. About 10-25% the of energy used to cool homes escapes through air leaks.
- Unless it is equipped specifically for home heating, use your fireplace sparingly. Warm air escapes through the chimney. Close the damper when you’re not using your fireplace.
- Shade your windows. Possible savings: 10-25%
- Open draperies and shades on south-facing windows to allow more sunlight and heat during the day. Close them at night to conserve heat.
- Use bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans sparingly. They can quickly pull warm air from your home.
No Cost/Low Cost Efficiency Tips
- Unplugging underutilized appliances in your home can lead to big savings in your electricity usage.
- Chargers for mobile phones still use electricity even when the phone is unplugged.
- Your home entertainment electronics pull a great deal of electricity if they remain plugged in. Plug TVs, stereos, and DVD players into a power strip and shut them off using the power strip’s On/Off button.
- If you have an ENERGY STAR® qualified computer, enable its shut-down features.
- The “sleep” mode reduces electricity usage by up to 70 percent during inactive periods.
- The “hibernate” mode shuts the computer down after a specified time, allowing you to restart using less electricity.
- Shut off the computer if you’re going to be away more than 2 hours.
- In the winter, try setting your thermostat to 68 degrees when you’re at home and lowering the temperature at night or when you’re away.
- In the summer, set the thermostat to a minimum 78 degrees; circulate cool air using box fans and ceiling fans.
- Open shades in the winter to let sunlight in. Close them in the summer to keep your home cooler.
