Energy cost is an expensive necessity not just for households today, but even for small business entities. The struggle to cut the cost short is indeed a demand. On top of that, being situated in big cities such as New York can be an additional challenge.
However, there are many ways to cut your energy consumption. Companies like E&V Energy can help provide various efficient and affordable HVAC or Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning solutions.
Here are five saving tips that you can incorporate into your home:
1. Check your heating system
Check your heating systems by having your energy consumption inspected by professionals. There are local utility companies that offer free inspections. You may also request for the utility company to check other devices in your home or office that have relatively high energy consumption.
The inspection will include:
- Air Filters
- Insulation problems
- Heat exchangers
- Internal area for possible dust accumulation or any unwanted solids inside
- Thermostat
2. Purchase only energy-efficient heating solutions
Before getting any heating system for your home or office, make sure it is energy-efficient. To do this, look for an Energy star sign for any appliance. Schedule an appointment for a consultation with any of your preferred local utility companies.
3. Regularly maintain your HVAC equipment
Annual checkups on your machines are a vital step in cutting your energy costs. Keep in mind the number of years the device is in use. The older it is, the higher its energy consumption.
For the heating system, check all oil connections, gas pressure, burners, and heat exchangers. By doing so, you can save yourself from the possible health problems it may cause in the future, such as leukemia, pneumonia, and various types of cancer. Electromagnetic fields that are highly emitted from power lines, transformers, and even heating systems can cause similar possible health risks.
4. Make sure your unit is running properly
Units that are not running effectively may add up unnecessary expenses to your bill, and that’s the last thing you want to happen. Aside from the high energy consumption, you will also have to pay for repairs for defective or broken units. Here are some of the things you probably practice without knowing your units are bleeding you dry:
- Turning off your units but not plugging them off from the sockets
Everyone thinks that by turning off a unit, they have already saved energy, but obviously, the unit is still running until it is completely disconnected from the outlet.
- Not entirely using big units at their full capacity and doing it often
You should always use big units to their full capacity to lessen their energy consumption. For instance, loading a clothes dryer at its full capacity consumes the same amount of energy when you load only half of its capacity.
- Using old units
Using units past their prime is one of the many reasons for your high energy consumption. As mentioned, the older your unit is, the bigger it consumes energy.
5. Understand your thermostats
Thermostats control the temperature of your home or office. In the office, you may set it within the relevant hours. And at your house, setting up the air conditioning to around 74 degrees and boilers to 68 degrees will keep your home comfortable depending on the weather or season you’re experiencing. Adjusting the temperature to lower the difference between interior and exterior temperatures reduces energy loss.
- Using manual thermostats
Manual thermostats are considerably user-friendly, especially for our non-techy family members and friends. It is easy to understand and control than programmable thermostats.
- Programmable thermostats
These thermostats work for both heating and cooling, and there is no need to manually adjust them. All you have to do is to match up the temperature depending on your family’s daily or weekly routine.
If it is in the office, then you can set it up during working hours and automatically turn it off after. Additionally, a programmable thermostat can provide different heat control zones. It means you can either cool or heat specific rooms depending on your preference.
- Smart or Wifi-enabled thermostats
This is a wifi-enabled thermostat that can be controlled using your smartphone or other connected devices. With this, you no longer have to worry about your house’s exact temperature when you are away. It also provides you with beneficial information on how to use energy and potentially reduce it. Some models are even connected to an app that lets you track your monthly energy consumption.
The Bottom Line
There are so many ways to help you cut your energy consumption. Using your heating systems wisely is an excellent way to contribute to the environment. Every time you try to reduce your energy waste, you are also helping to preserve and prolong our ecosystem.
These little steps you make, it is not wasted. All your efforts in maintaining your household and office a better place is also a step toward making our environment a better home.
