9 Steps to Take Your Home to an Energy-Efficient Status

Want to save money on energy this winter? Discover nine simple ways to get the energy-efficient home you’ve always wanted – without moving.

1. Low-flow fixtures. The majority of low-flow showerheads aerate water, which results in less energy used to heat the water. In most cases, you won’t need to replace an entire sink, but can simply replace the screw-on tip of your faucet.
2. Turn off lights and electronics. Getting into the habit won’t cost you a dime, but it can be challenging to remember. Start by reminding yourself of one simple rule: If there isn’t anyone in a room, the lights and electronics in that room don’t need to be left on.
3. Change your lightbulbs. Energy-efficient lightbulbs use up to 25 percent less energy – which goes a long way toward achieving an energy-efficient home.
4. Take a look at your insulation. Homes typically lose heat (or gain it in the summer) in attics, walls and basements. This can dramatically affect the heating and cooling efficiency of your home. A professional energy audit can find where your home is lacking insulation.
5. Keep an eye on seals and cracks. Any crack or hole, including in your walls, floors, or ceilings, can leak air and result in significant heating and cooling loss over the course of a year.
6. Update your air conditioner. These days you can get extremely energy-efficient air conditioning systems, which can greatly reduce your energy bills – in fact, by some estimates this can slash summer cooling bills in half, depending on the age of the system you’re replacing.
7. Replace older windows. Upgrading to energy-efficient windows can save you up to 25 percent on your heating bills.
8. Check your furnace. Take a look at your current furnace or boiler to find its Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) rating. This measures how much fuel gets converted into heat. Older models are likely in the 55-70 percent range, while new furnaces can be up to 98 percent efficient.
9. Look for Energy Star. When you’re buying new appliances or considering energy-efficient home improvements, look for the Energy Star label, which shows the product or upgrade meets minimum energy-efficiency standards.

For more information on creating an energy-efficient home, please contact us at Stack Heating & Cooling today. We’ve been proudly serving the greater Cleveland area for more than 30 years.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Cleveland, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about energy efficiency and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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