Making your home more energy efficient helps ensure more than monthly savings on utility bills. An energy efficient home is also more comfortable in winter, as heat is retained more effectively. In addition, the heating system in an efficient structure runs shorter heating cycles, incurring less wear and tear, reducing malfunctions, and extending the expected service life of the unit.
A number of factors combine to make a home energy efficient, from the little things up to more substantial upgrades. What follows is an assortment of changes you can make that will pay off from day one.
- Seal the house. Winter heat loss degrades home comfort and stresses heating components. Per the Department of Energy, air leakage from a home’s structure can account for up to 40% of energy consumption by a heating system. Locate and replace worn or missing weatherstripping around doors and windows that leak warm air. Also seal openings in the ceiling that allow rising heat to escape into the attic.
- Evaluate the insulation. Both the amount of insulation in a home and the condition of the insulation material impact energy efficiency. Insulation in a home is expressed by the R-factor numeral. In our climate zone, the DOE recommends insulating from R30 up to R60. For standard batts of fiberglass attic insulation, the depth should range from 13 inches up to 17 inches.
- Get the ductwork checked. Aging ducts are notorious for air leakage. Heated air leaking into the attic, crawl space or wall voids is wasteful and degrades indoor comfort. A qualified HVAC contractor can test ductwork for any potential problems. Checkups on heating and cooling components by a certified technician are vital to ensure that the system is operating up to its energy-efficiency rating. These precision maintenance tune ups also help identify minor incipient issues that might become a major issue later. Also, professional maintenance is required to keep most HVAC warranties active.
For more helpful advice on how to be energy efficient, as well as experienced professional service, contact the experts at Jackson & Sons.
