In the second part of our series on saving money in relation to power usage, We Care Plumbing, Heating, & Air focused on simple tricks the consumer could do at home to save hundreds of dollars a year. While replacing bulbs and taking surveys are some of the easier fixes to do, there are methods advanced readers could take more charge of their energy bill.
Water Heater Temperature
Lowering a water heater temperature to 120 degrees F is a wonderful way to save 6%-10% yearly in energy costs without much noticeable difference. Programmable thermostats can save approximately 10% of yearly home cooling and heating bills. These devices can store and repeat multiple settings depending on the time of year, current temperature, humidity, and even hook into your existing home alarm system.
Solar Film
Solar film can be purchased at any hardware store. It comes in a variety of styles and sizes but the most important thing to remember about purchasing solar film for energy conservation needs is to keep the reflective side pointing outward. Several types of the solar film come with different finishes. Some are tinted types while others have printed patterns or a reflective side. Installation is simple and will be covered in a later posting about energy efficiency. We Care Plumbing, Heating, & Air has a large workforce that would love to assist you with your installation needs should you require a helping hand. Adding the film to your windows prevents UV and other damaging sun rays from entering the home and destroying valuable pictures and artwork. It also prevents up to 70% of heat conduction from the outside simply by eliminating the light. Keeping the inside cooler reduces the need to turn on the AC. Coupled with a programmable thermostat and a large chunk of funds stays in the consumer’s pocket with little effort.
Insulate your life
Other methods include adding new insulation to your attic. Make sure the new insulation has the appropriate R-value or resistance to heat flow. This rating should include the values of climate, location, state laws, and elevation. A good rule of thumb is the higher the R-value, the greater the effectiveness of the insulation. Fixing leaks around the home using latex silicone or other energy-efficient calking will also reduce the loss of heat or cool air to those tiny fissures. Getting down on your hands and knees and plugging every tiny crack might not seem like a pleasant job but doing it yourself could save a ton of money. Asking a licensed technician like those here at We Care Plumbing, Heating, & Air might cost a little more, but it also guarantees that the job will be done right as we see this kind of thing all of the time. Weatherstripping kits for windows and doors should be included in this step of plugging up gaps.
Read It’s Getting Hard To Waste Energy Part 1
