No matter home much you try to avoid it, your home will consume energy. However, your home doesn’t have to use maximum energy all the time. For over 35 years, Five Star Plumbing Heating Cooling and Electrical and Electric has been providing western North Carolina and upstate South Carolina with energy-saving home improvements in their HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems. Along the way, our service professionals have picked up plenty of tips and best practices that could help you use less energy in your home and even reduce your monthly energy bills.
Energy Saving Tips for Your Home
Throughout the year, your home will need different energies as heating and cooling will become more or less important depending on the season. To make things easier for you, we’ve assembled this list of year-round tips to ensure that saving energy at home isn’t restricted to one season.
HVAC Energy Saving Tips
Heating and cooling systems are responsible for some of the most significant portions of most homes’ utility bills. Because of this, South Carolina homes average among the highest monthly utility bills in the country. Here are a few steps you can take to address your bills and lower energy usage:
Use Fans Instead of an Air Conditioner
Compared to air conditioners, ceiling fans use less energy while keeping your home cool. A ceiling fan and a raised thermostat can reduce your energy usage.
Check the Condition of Your Air Filters
As your home’s air filters get more and more clogged, your system will require more energy to push the air through your heating and cooling system. Checking your filters regularly will give you a better chance of catching any potential issues before they get out of control.
Update Your Weather Stripping
Gaps around your doors and windows allow your warmed or cooled air to escape, making your system work harder and use more energy. Making sure your home’s weather stripping is in good condition can reduce the demand on your HVAC systems.
Upgrade Your HVAC Systems
Sometimes the best course of action for energy savings is to replace your old HVAC systems. As parts age, they become less effective. Less effective parts force your system to draw on more energy to work. With a newer heating and cooling system in your home, you could see your energy bills drop.
Electrical Home Energy Saving Tips
Your HVAC bills aren’t only your energy system, though. Taking steps with your home’s electrical systems can also lower your energy costs.
Change Out Your Light Bulbs
Replacing your lightbulbs with more energy-efficient light bulbs can save you money. LED bulbs use less energy while still providing light to your home.
Use Power Strips to Reduce Idle Load
Idle load, sometimes called “vampire energy,” is when your appliances and devices use power, even when off. This energy usage results in wasted money for homeowners. Using energy-saving power strips can help you reduce energy loss.
Find Help with Energy Savings in the Greenville Area
Although many of these steps can be taken on your own, to truly maximize your energy savings you’ll need to turn to service professionals like those at Five Star. From our home inspection services to installation and repairs, we can get your HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems working more efficiently, saving you money. Contact us online or call (864) 306-4898 to schedule your service.