4 Ways to Help Increase Energy Efficiency at Home

We can all benefit from saving money here and there. An easy way to do this is by making some energy-efficient changes around your home. Upgrading your HVAC equipment or installing a smart thermostat, for example, offers more control over your heating and cooling system, contributing to a more energy-efficient home and lower monthly energy bills.  

Keep reading to learn more about 4 ways you can make energy-efficient home improvements. 

 1. Try Smart Home Products Like a Smart Thermostat  

If you still use a round-dial thermostat and adjust it manually, think about taking a step toward the future by installing a smart, or Wi-Fi, thermostat – which comes with numerous features to improve your home's energy efficiency. 

The functionality homeowners appreciate the most is having the capability to access their smart thermostats from wherever through their smartphone or other smart device. For instance, when you forget to use your thermostat before taking a vacation, you can simply take out your smartphone and make any needed adjustments.  

Similar to a programmable thermostat, a smart thermostat allows you to set up a schedule for your home’s temperature according to the time of day and day of the week so you’re not heating or cooling an empty house. Smart thermostats also have the capacity to understand your temperature preferences over time and automatically make energy-efficient modifications. They even generate monthly energy reports that illustrate how much energy you are using and when so you can make adjustments to reduce costs.  

If you’re wondering how to get a free smart thermostat, talk to your utility company to find out if there are any discounts or free smart thermostats available. 

2. Routine HVAC Maintenance 

Regrettably, lots of homeowners often forget to keep their heating and cooling systems maintained. While this might not seem like a problem, ignoring maintenance could produce a number of issues, including inefficiency, breakdowns, and a shorter system lifespan. 

With an HVAC maintenance service, a heating and cooling technician will examine your HVAC system, clean important components, and identify minor flaws before they produce bigger, more expensive repair issues. Maintenance can keep HVAC systems functioning at optimal condition, which means less energy is needed to heat and cool your home. This will help with your energy bills, prolong the lifespan of HVAC equipment, and lead to fewer repairs. 

We recommend two HVAC tune ups each year – once in the spring before summer and again in the fall before the arrival of frigid weather. 

3. Getting rid of Your Worn-Down, Inefficient HVAC Equipment 

Annoyingly, like all appliances, HVAC systems have a shelf life and ultimately need to be replaced. Newer heaters and cooling systems are much more efficient than equipment manufactured just over 10 years ago. Fortunately, helpful HVAC companies like Northern Comfort Inc can handle professional services such as furnace installation in Mankato area.  

Well-maintained furnaces and air conditioners can run for around 15-20 years. If your systems are within that span, it is often be a good idea to replace them early to minimize the risk of untimely breakdowns that can leave you cold and uncomfortable on a cold winter night. If your system is around 15 years old and needs an expensive repair, it’s almost always time to replace the system. Per the U.S. Department of Energy, getting a new HVAC system can sometimes save you about 20-40% on your monthly energy bills, so you’ll get back some of the costs of putting in a new system. 

 A professional comfort technician can help you determine the most energy efficient HVAC system available. In general, try to find HVAC systems that are Energy Star certified, which means the equipment satisfies rigid guidelines made by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. LENNOX HVAC systems can be some of the most efficient systems around, offering both high AFUE and SEER ratings. AFUE is intended for heating systems and illustrates how well they convert fuel to heat. SEER, meanwhile, is used to quantify the efficiency of cooling systems.  

Contact a reputable HVAC provider like Northern Comfort Inc for air conditioning installation in Mankato area. 

 4. Use Energy-Efficient Air Filters 

If you’re searching for new HVAC filters, consider that not all air filters are created equally. Specific air filters are far more successful than others, leading to lower energy bills and a cleaner home environment. 

The efficiency of HVAC air filters is scored by their Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value, or MERV rating. The MERV scale ranges between 1-20; the higher the number, the more efficient the filters are. It’s worthwhile to note, though, that high-efficiency air filters can in fact restrict airflow too much depending on the type of HVAC system you installed. It’s beneficial to review the owner’s manual before getting a filter to find the best option for your system.