Install a Programmable Thermostat to Save on Your Energy Bills

November 5th, 2011 Posted in HVAC Equipment
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If you are still reeling from your electricity bills for your summer air conditioning, you are probably not looking forward to the onset of winter and the associated heating bills.  One great way to save money on your energy bills throughout the year while doing your part for the environment is to install a programmable thermostat.

A programmable thermostat can reduce your energy usage for heating and cooling while increasing your comfort level. Less energy used means fewer fossil fuels burned to create electricity and lower greenhouse gas emissions.

A programmable thermostat can be programmed to adjust the heat or cool setting in your home depending on your lifestyle.  In the winter, the thermostat can be programmed to turn down the temperature after you go to bed and turn it back up in the morning before your alarm goes off.  It can do the same thing while you are at work during the day.

In the summer the thermostat is programmed to keep your home cooler while you are awake and at home.  Most of these thermostats allow for a separate program to handle weekends

You can achieve similar results by turning the thermostat up or down manually, but a programmable thermostat frees you from having to remember to adjust the thermostat every time you wake up, go to bed, go to work, and arrive at home.  In addition, the thermostat can be set to adjust the temperature before you get out of bed or home from work and after you go to bed or leave the house for the day.  No more waiting for the house to cool down or heat up to a comfortable temperature.

A reputable HVAC contractor who sells and installs HVAC accessories and optional components can help you choose a programmable thermostat that’s right for you.

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Save Money By Using Your Programmable Thermostat Properly

November 5th, 2011 Posted in HVAC Equipment
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According to estimates by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), you can save up to $180 per year on energy costs by properly using a programmable thermostat.  If you do the installation yourself, you can recoup the cost of the thermostat in about six months or less.

Unless you are confident that you can install the thermostat correctly, you should have it installed by a reputable HVAC contractor who sells and installs HVAC accessories and optional components.  Costs vary, but you can probably recover the cost of the professionally installed thermostat in about one to two years.

In either case, these thermostats can last for fifteen to twenty years or longer.  That means whether you install the thermostat yourself or rely on a professional HVAC contractor, you will enjoy many years of savings if you follow the EPA guidelines.

The EPA recommends that you program the thermostat to hold the temperature at the energy saving level for long periods of time such as all day while you are at work or all night while you are asleep.  Avoid using the “override” feature to adjust the temperature setting.  The more often you use this feature, the lower your energy savings will be.

Instead, try to program the unit so that you will remain comfortable without having to adjust the temperature manually.  These thermostats work best when they are “set and forget”.  The less you manually adjust the temperature, the more consistently the thermostat will be saving you energy.

If your home has multiple heating and cooling systems such as a separate system for each level of your home, use a separate thermostat for each system.

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Reducing Home Heating Costs

January 10th, 2011 Posted in Reducing HVAC Energy Costs
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Now that the winter weather is here, most of us are looking for ways to reduce our home heating costs without sacrificing comfort.  Here are a few tips to get you started:

Have your local HVAC company do an HVAC system efficiency analysis.  They will inspect your home and HVAC system, measure your energy usage, and make recommendations for reducing your home heating costs.

Install a programmable thermostat.  Your HVAC professional can install one for you or you buy one at your local home  improvement store for do-it –yourself installation.  Programmable thermostats can reduce your heating costs by automatically lowering the temperature when you and your family are away from home.

Even if you do not have a programmable thermostat, you can do pretty much the same thing by turning your thermostat down at night and while you and your family are away at work or school during the day.

Use your ceiling fans to recirculate warm air down to the lower areas of the room.  Most ceiling fans have a reverse switch to accomplish this.  Run the fan in reverse on low for good results without any drafts.

Make sure your doors and windows have good weather stripping.  Your local home improvement store has a wide selection of easily applied weather stripping products for sealing drafty doors and windows.

Change your furnace filter.  A dirty furnace filter makes your furnace work harder and reduces heating efficiency.

Make sure your attic has plenty of insulation.  Heat rises, so a lot of your heated air escapes through the ceilings.  An extra layer of insulation in your attic can make  a big difference.

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