Slashing Summer Energy Costs
With energy costs ever on the rise, it’s not a bad idea to thoughtfully examine your home to see how you can save without having to forego air conditioning. The Department of Energy speculates that half of a household’s energy consumption is from heating and cooling. Allow us to offer tips on how to keep your summer energy costs in check while still helping the environment.
INSULATION: Insulation in your attic acts as a preventative to keep the sun’s heat that hits your roof, especially in the summer, from filtering into the rest of your home, which in turn, will make your air conditioner work harder. According to ENERGY STAR® , the proper amount of insulation that is installed correctly can lower your energy bills by as much as 20%. Insulation shouldn’t be limited to your attic. Your walls and basement also benefit from insulation.
WINDOWS: All windows are NOT created equally, particularly when it comes to energy efficiency. Windows best suited to provide insulation and increase your home’s energy efficiency are those that are triple pane. This means they contain three panes of glass that are separated by air spaces. They’re a great way to save on your energy bills because they have more surface area, which is used to absorb both warmth and cold putting less stress on your home’s furnace and air conditioner. Lindus Construction is the exclusive home of the SeasonGuard window. The SeasonGuard window’s patented design allows for solar heat gain in the winter which naturally keeps your home warmer. In the summer, SeasonGuard windows deflect sunlight, lowering your energy costs. Vinyl and wood frames will work much better than those made of metal because metal is a conductor, which means it will increase the sweating issue since it will transfer the cold air indoors. And while we’re on the topic of windows, drawing the shades during the daytime, will also keep your home cooler.
PREVENT AIR LEAKAGE: Did you know that a duct leaking air in your home wastes between 10-30% of cooling energy and it may require as much as one ton of AC just to overcome that leak? A home performance test can allow you to understand areas where your home is leaking air.
HOME APPLIANCES: Your oven uses 2/3 more energy than a microwave so bear that in mind when you’re preparing your meals, or even better yet, grill out. Plus, oven use raises the temperature of your home which will, in turn, make your HVAC unit work harder, raising your energy costs. Other appliances such as a dishwashers, washers & dryers also raise your home’s temperature and your cooling costs so it’s best to use them either early in the morning or later at night when the warmest part of the day has passed.
THERMOSTAT: Control your home’s temperature while you’re at work with a programmable thermostat by setting it to revert back to your desired temperature about a half an hour before you are scheduled to arrive at home.
