The typical U.S. family spends more than $2,000 a year on home utility bills. Unfortunately, a lot of energy is wasted through inefficient heating and cooling systems, leaky windows and ducts and inefficient appliances.
Heating and cooling your home uses more energy and costs more money than any other system in your home; typically making up about 50 percent of your utility bill.
The University of Alabama’s Greg McKelvey offers simple tips to help make your home more comfortable and easier to heat and cool — while also lowering your utility bills.
- Lower your thermostat setting. Set your thermostat as low as is comfortable in the winter and as high as is comfortable in the summer, especially when you’re sleeping or away from home. For every one degree you raise/lower your thermostat setting, you will save 5 percent on your heating and cooling costs. If no one will be home for several hours, turn up your cooling system’s thermostat to 78 F or higher in the summer and turn down your heating system’s thermostat to 66 F or lower in the winter. An even better way to accomplish temperature setbacks is to install a programmable thermostat to automatically lower the temperature setting at night and during times you are not at home. Using an electric blanket at night is more economical than heating the entire house all night.
- Use a ceiling fan. Fans can be used in conjunction with air conditioning to help reduce energy costs. The “wind chill” effect allows the air conditioner thermostat to be set higher while maintaining the same degree of comfort for room occupants. A 2 degree increase in your thermostat setting can result in a reduction of up to 10 percent in air conditioning energy use, and the cost of running the ceiling fan is minimal. Most ceiling fans are designed to be reversible for winter operation. This reverse mode of operation allows the warmer ceiling air to be directed downward without blowing directly on the occupants. Never use the heating/cooling system’s fan to provide air circulation; only use ceiling fans or fans placed in individual rooms.
- Change your air filter. Replacing a dirty air filter is probably the simplest, least expensive and most overlooked maintenance job there is. Air filters don’t just keep the air clean and fresh, they save you money by improving the system’s performance. Clean filters also prolong the life of your heating and cooling equipment by keeping dirt and dust out of the diffusers, coils, fans and motors. Most air filters are disposable, although an electrostatic filter can be cleaned with water. Either way, air filters should be replaced or cleaned once a month.
- Eliminate air leaks and add insulation. Air leaks waste a lot of your energy dollars. One of the quickest energy saving tasks you can do is caulk, seal and weather strip all seams, cracks and openings to the outside. Start by performing a thorough visual inspection to ensure the caulking and weather stripping are applied properly and are in good condition. Check the exterior caulking around doors and windows, and see whether doors and storm doors close tightly. To test your home for air tightness, carefully hold a lit incense stick or a smoke pen next to your windows, doors, electrical boxes, plumbing fixtures, electrical outlets, ceiling fixtures, attic hatches and other places where air may leak. Doing this on a windy day works best. Be sure to caulk and seal air leaks where plumbing, ducting or electrical wiring comes through walls, floors, ceilings and soffits over cabinets. Install foam gaskets behind electrical outlet and switch plates on walls. Cover single-pane windows with storm windows or replace them with more efficient double-pane low-emissivity windows. Replace door gaskets and thresholds with ones that have pliable sealing gaskets. Adding insulation creates a more uniform house temperature and increases comfort. Recommended levels of insulation are R45 to R60 in the attic, R15 in the walls and R25 in the floor. The higher the R-value, the better. Be sure to seal air leaks before you insulate, because insulating materials won’t block air leaks. Your air ducts are one of the most important parts of your heating and cooling system, and if the ducts are poorly sealed or insulated they are likely contributing to higher energy bills. Ducts that leak conditioned air can add hundreds of dollars a year to your heating and cooling bills. Use your bathroom and kitchen exhaust fan as needed to remove excess heat, moisture and odors. But don’t let it run longer than needed, or it will be taking out excess conditioned air.
- Block out the outdoor cold and heat. In the summer, keep the curtains closed during the day to help keep the house cooler. During the winter, leave draperies open on sunny days so your house will absorb the sun’s heat. Close them at night. Landscaping is a natural and beautiful way to keep your home cool in summer and reduce your energy bills. A well-placed tree, shrub or vine can deliver effective shade, act as a windbreak and reduce your energy bills. Leafy trees shade best on the south and west sides. Deciduous trees that lose their leaves in the winter help you cool in the summer and warm the house in the winter by letting in sun. Plant evergreen trees to serve as wind breakers. Close all outside louvers and vents in the attic and crawl space walls during the winter; but be sure to open them when the weather turns warm. Although a crackling fire in the fireplace can make a room appear to be warm and cozy, traditional fireplaces are often a deterrent to energy efficiency because a lot of the heated air in the house is pulled up the chimney. Always close the fireplace damper when not in use.
- Take care of your outdoor unit. Keep your outside condenser unit clean and clear of debris and weeds. Mow grass away from the condenser in the summer, and keep the fan grill free of leaves in the fall. Clean your condenser coil annually using a mild cleaner. Shade your condenser unit if possible; you will save energy if your unit is processing cooler air.
McKelvey is the director of HVAC and Energy Management for UA-Facilities.
