A brand new year is right around the corner, and at Oliver, we want you to add “save energy” to your list of resolutions. Our HVAC service experts have come up with a few ways you can reduce your carbon footprint and save some money in 2016:
1. Don’t leave your lights on.
This is a simple resolution, but can make a big difference on your electric bill. If you’re not using the lights in a room, turn them off. This goes for living rooms and kitchens, too.
2. Use more power strips.
Even when appliances aren’t turned on or in use, they still use power when they’re plugged in. Instead of unplugging things all the time, invest in a power strip that you can plug multiple things into and turn off all at once.
3. Take shorter showers.
Shorter showers mean less hot water that your water heater needs to heat, and less hot water means a lower electric or gas bill.
4. Use your ceiling fans.
This year, give your HVAC system a break and use your ceiling fans more. Set your fans to spin clockwise in the winter and counter-clockwise in the summer. They’ll pull warm air down from the ceiling when it’s cold and create a wind chill effect when it’s warm.
5. Get a programmable thermostat.
With a programmable thermostat, you can save both energy and money by setting your heat or air conditioning to run only when you need it to (as in, when you’re home).
6. Wash full loads.
Most of the energy used by dishwashers and washing machines goes toward heating the water, and washing only half loads of dishes or laundry wastes money. Wait until you have a full load of dishes or clothes before you wash them.
7. Keep doors and windows closed.
When you have your heat or air conditioning on, close your doors and windows to prevent hot or cold air from flowing into your home and making your HVAC system work harder than it has to.
8. Invest in efficient light bulbs.
We’ve learned that traditional incandescent light bulbs use a lot more energy than they need to (and they also burn hotter), so ditch the incandescents and turn to energy-efficient LEDs or CFLs. Your electricity bill will go down and you’ll also save energy.
9. Keep the freezer full.
Just like the loads of dishes or laundry, your freezer will use more energy to keep a few items frozen than you will if you filled the freezer. Almost anything can be frozen, so look for the latest deals at the grocery store and stock up on some food for future nights when you don’t feel like cooking.
10. Improve your ductwork.
Holes or bad connections in ductwork can leak the hot or cold air that’s coming from your HVAC system. By sealing and insulating your ductwork, you can prevent air leakage and improve airflow.
