If you live in the United States, it’s very likely indeed that you have both a cooling system and a heating system. After all, up to two thirds of all homes now have air conditioning systems, and heating systems are even more prevalent. These systems are often very much necessary for safety as well as comfort during the winter months that are so fierce and brutal in much of this country, and even cooling systems can be hugely beneficial for the purposes of comfort during summer months.
But there is also no doubting the fact that these heating and cooling services can be quite expensive indeed, typically during the times of the year that they are needed the most, as unfortunate as this is. For the typical family in the typical home, it is far from uncommon for the average energy bill to be half made up of the heating or cooling costs that have accrued for that month. Over the course of just one single year here in the United States, it is not uncommon for the average person to spend as much has $2,200 on energy costs alone.
Taking a number of steps, large and small alike, can help to lower these costs considerably – and many of these steps are ones that just about anyone will be able to take. For instance, simply staying on top of your servicing and maintenance schedule can have a hugely positive impact, as well serviced systems will stay efficient – and also will be less likely to need repairs. If you’re looking to keep you heating and cooling costs from rising, this is a good first step and one that everyone should be investing in at least twice throughout the year.
In addition to this, investing in smart technology is also a great way to accrue energy savings. Smart technology can look different for every home, and there is really no one way to incorporate smart technology. Some people will simply use small aspects of smart technology like a programmable thermostat which, when installed, can immediately begin to save you money. Over the course of a year, smart technology like the programmable thermostat can actually save you as much as 10% on your energy bill. Saving up to incorporate even more smart technology as time passes on is something that many people are also doing, especially as smart technology grows more and more advanced than ever before both here in the United States as well as in many places outside of it too.
Aside from incorporating various aspects of smart technology into your home, you’ll also want to consider other home improvement solutions such as the addition of insulation. The addition of insulation can be a great way to save money, as simply sealing all of the cracks in your home can already reduce energy costs by as much as 20%, a full one fifth. When looking at the bigger picture of all energy costs and not just those associated with heating and cooling, it has been found that savings of as much as 10% are possible on a yearly basis, all with just the application of insulation – or the installation of better insulation than was present before.
Even just replacing windows with energy efficient ones with a good Energy Star rating can help to lower heating and cooling costs by as much as a quarter. After all, windows can become drafty and inefficient with age and window replacement will become something of a necessity in just about every home at some point in time. Why not switch to energy efficient windows if a change already needs to be made? The cost of replacing a window – which can be as low as $300 but also can climb as high as $700 – is likely to be more than worth it at the end of the day, as a new window will end up saving a great deal of money in the long run.
All in all, there are many ways to save energy in your home – and save money in doing so.