In the average home in the United States, heating and cooling costs account for about 48 percent of the home’s energy use. While this is one of the largest energy expenses you may face, there are ways you can lower it. Discover the top five ways you can save money on your heating and cooling costs and lower that large expense.
Adjust Your Temperature Settings
Adjusting the temperature settings on your thermostat even a few degrees can have a big impact on your energy savings. In fact, the U.S. Department of Energy states that you can save up to 10 percent a year on heating and cooling costs by turning back your thermostat between seven and 10 degrees for eight hours a day. The easiest way to see these savings is to set a programmable thermostat to change the temperature when you leave for work.
Use Your Blinds Properly
While you may view your blinds or curtains as items that are more for decoration or privacy, they can actually play a big role in helping to reduce your energy costs if you use them the right way. This means during the summer months you want to keep them closed so they block the sun’s rays, keep your home cooler, and help your air conditioning not run as much. In the winter, open your curtains or blinds so the sun can naturally help heat your home and give your furnace a little break.
Use a Ceiling Fan
When it feels hot in your house, don’t automatically reach for the thermostat to bump it down a few degrees. Instead, turn on a ceiling fan. The National Resource Defense Council says that using a ceiling fan can actually make a room feel 10 degrees colder, yet it only uses 10 percent of the energy that the central air conditioner uses. Manufacturers are even starting to make smart ceiling fans that you control using an app. You can schedule times for the fan to turn on and off and control the speeds, all from your phone.
Install a Ductless Mini-Split System
Installing a ductless mini-split system gives you the ability to control which rooms get heated or cooled and which rooms don’t. Therefore, if everyone is in the living room and not the bedrooms, you can leave the bedroom systems off until someone goes in. This control to heat or cool only rooms you’re using can help you reduce heating costs by up to 50 percent and cooling costs by 30 percent.
Seal Air Leaks Around Doors and Windows
Air leaks around windows and doors mean you have heated or cooled air you paid for that’s going straight outside. To discover leaks, hold a candle around your windows and doors on a breezy day. If you see the flame wavering, you have an air leak. Place a thin line of caulk around your windows and doors to seal the leak.
From using curtains the right way to adjusting your temperature settings, these are the best ways you can save money on your heating and cooling costs.
