You should never have to choose between staying warm or saving money. Your HVAC system accounts for as much as 50 percent of your total energy bill. That can add up to big bucks over the course of the entire year. Being smart with your HVAC system turns into being smart with your money.  You can reduce your HVAC energy costs in simple ways with these HVAC energy saving tips.

 

HVAC Energy Saving Tips

•       Energy Audit: Invest the time and money into having an energy audit done on your home or business to see where your energy is being wasted and how to increase the overall efficiency of your HVAC system.
•       Routine Maintenance: If your system has to work harder due to dust, buildup, dirty filters, or clogged drains, it uses more energy and costs you more money. Routing maintenance ensures your system runs at optimum efficiency.
•       Program Your Thermostat: Operate your HVAC system at optimum and stable temperatures to create the most efficient system. Program your system’s schedule around your own to create a timely and effective way to manage your system’s usage.
•       Seal: Sealing your home from drafts can make a huge difference in your HVAC energy costs. All this takes is finding smart and safe ways to eliminate areas where hot air is escaping and cold air is finding its way inside.
•       Insulate: Add more insulation where/when you can. Insulating the attic is a great place to start.
•       Keep Out the Heat: In the summertime, use blinds and shades to keep direct sunlight and extra heat out of your home. This means you’re helping your air conditioner never work harder than it has to.
•       Turn Off Ceiling Fans: Ceiling fans don’t cool the air, they only circulate it and make you feel cooler. Use them when you’re home to keep things comfortable, but turn them off when you leave the house.
•       Run Appliances at Night: Things like your dishwasher and washing machine produce heat. If you run them at night after the temperature outside drops, your air conditioner doesn’t have to work so hard to keep things cool inside your home.
•       Change Your Air Filters: Check them every month and replace them every 30-90 days to prevent dirt build-up and causing your system to be overworked.
•      Use Space Heaters: Especially if you’re only using one area of your home in the winter, consider a space heater instead of heating your entire home.
•       Upgrade: If you don’t currently have an energy efficient HVAC system, or your system is over 10 years old, it might be worth upgrading. The EPA estimates energy efficient systems can pay for themselves in a short period of time.