by Service Experts, Service Experts

Q: How can I control energy costs?

A: With energy costs soaring, there are a variety of steps you can take to cut the expenses of cooling your home.
Cooling and heating equipment use more energy than any other appliance. This inevitably shows up every month on the energy bill, but it’s important to remember that energy costs can be controlled.

Maintenance

One step to control energy costs is to schedule annual maintenance checks to make sure your unit is running properly and efficiently. Most home comfort systems require very little owner maintenance. However, operating dirty heating or cooling equipment can result in unnecessary loss of efficiency and can damage the unit. You play a vital role in making sure your system continues to operate at peak performance.

High Efficiency

If you are in the market for a new home comfort system, consider purchasing a high-efficiency system. They can help reduce your energy costs as well as conserve our natural resources. When selecting a new home comfort system, pay close attention to the SEER rating of the air conditioner and the AFUE of the furnace. The higher the SEER or AFUE, the higher the savings.

Zoning

Zoning can drastically lower your heating costs. With zoning, you no longer have to pay to heat or cool areas of your home that are rarely used. You won’t have to heat or cool the whole house just to make one room comfortable. Zoning divides your home into separate comfort areas, which are heated or cooled based on your needs.

Programmable Thermostats

Programmable thermostats can make a big difference in energy consumption. These thermostats deliver maximum comfort, efficiency and energy savings. Programmable thermostats are used to achieve the temperature you want throughout your home. For example, if you’re going to be away, you can set the whole house at an energy-saving temperature to avoid heating or cooling an empty house. You can then program them to have your living areas comfortable by the time you arrive back home.

Q: How can I make my home more energy efficient?

A: Follow these suggestions for making your home more energy efficient:

• Make sure all ductwork vent registers are not blocked by furniture.
• Leave all interior doors open at least 2 inches if the room does not have its own return air intake vent.
• Insulate your attic and ductwork.
• Install solar screens, awnings, or plants to shade windows and walls during the summer months.
• Keep heating and cooling filters clean and inspect them monthly.
• Have your heating and cooling system thoroughly cleaned and tuned (not just a check-up) by a reputable company with certified technicians, such as Service Experts, at least twice a year.
• Seal ductwork airtight.
• Turn off all lights, fans, computer monitors, etc. when a room is unoccupied.
• Consider replacing low efficiency incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs.
• Replace old inefficient heating and cooling systems with new super-high efficiency models.
• Always buy products with the Energy Star label.

This article was provided by Service Experts. Service Experts is North America’s leading home comfort company because we sell, service and repair more heating and cooling systems than any other company. No other HVAC company has more home comfort experience. Visit the website today.

Turning Your Thermostat Down 1 Degree Can Equal Huge Savings

by Air and Water

In early December 2007, Congress approved a new bill that would provide an additional $409 million to its Low Income Home Energy Assistance program, a program aimed at providing heating and cooling subsidies to those in financial need. Nevertheless, many political pundits are questioning whether this amount is enough, and home heating costs are still on the rise this winter.

Coincidentally, heating bills are rising at a time when utility companies across the country are now broadening their payment options for their customers, and this includes allowing credit cards to be used to pay for utility bills. According to a recent article and poll published by financial site, Creditcards.com, this may prove to be disastrous for many Americans, as the article notes that paying for living expenses with credit cards may be fine for those who can afford to pay off their balance every month, using a credit card to pay for an electric bill may not be a good idea for those who are prone to carrying a high revolving balance.

While more than 2/3 of the above poll’s participants stated that they would try to keep their energy bills low by turning down their thermostat or by using other sources of heat such as supplemental space heaters, Perry Sioshansi, president of Menlo Energy Economics, a San Francisco based energy consulting company, notes that Americans will need to make better, long-term changes when it comes to their energy consumption habits. In fact, Sioshansi notes, “We all need to make those decisions when we buy appliances, when we’re replacing appliances. When the light bulb goes out, buy the more efficient kind and put it in, get the more-energy-efficient insulation for the walls – these are permanent things that improve the utilization of energy.”

Because home heating costs can account for more than half of a household’s energy bill, even seemingly small changes may result in substantial energy savings over the course of a season. In fact, many homeowners may not realize that simple adjustments to one’s thermostat will reduce winter heating needs by approximately 15% – a return many families may find well worth the small sacrifice in comfort, and an energy-saving method that will hopefully decrease the need to find different ways to pay for inflated heating costs.

Regardless of what type of heating system you have, a small reduction in your household’s temperature can make a huge difference in your fuel use. For every 1 degree Farenheit reduction you make, you can save 3 percent in total energy use – savings that will surely be welcomed during the winter season.

In addition, you may not realize that your home may have uneven heating patterns. If this is the case, an energy expert may be able to help adjust your system to address uneven temperatures. If these adjustments prove to be insufficient or if you still need additional heat in your home but do not wish to utilize your central heating system, a portable space heater can be also be used to reduce the overall temperature in cold spots.

This article was provided by Air & Water. Since its inception in 2003, Air & Water has grown to become a premier online retailer and is a rated as a trusted store by leading Internet shopping sites such as Amazon, Bizrate, and NextTag. Therefore, maintaining high standards in customer support is of the utmost importance. Air & Water’s mission is to offer their customers reliable, high-valued heating, cooling, and purification products at the most competitive prices.