What Can I Do to Lower My Energy Bills in Justin?
If you’re wanting to save money, a great place to look is right inside your home. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, heating and cooling your home normally accounts for about 48% of your utility bill. Some of the best ways to start saving money don’t necessitate a big investment of money or time. If you haven’t set up your furnace service for the year, that’s the perfect place to start. We also have a few additional tips that can help keep your expenses as low as possible.
Schedule an Energy Audit
If you reach out to your local utility provider, they will come complete an energy audit of your home. These services are usually provided free-of-charge and account for everything that is showing up on your monthly bill, from your heating and cooling system to your kitchen and laundry appliances. Many utility companies also have rebates for insulation and other things that can boost your home’s efficiency.
Smartly Program Your Programmable Thermostat
Thermostats have evolved quite a bit, and the technology behind them only continues to change. For example, the iComfort S30 is able to utilize the GPS In your smartphone to determine when you’re leaving and makes the proper change to help you save money and improve efficiency while you’re away. When you return home, everything goes back to normal and you don’t have to worry about anything. It’s also able to adapt to your routine, so when baseball and football seasons kick off, your thermostat can make the correct adjustment.
The Department of Energy notes that a well programmed thermostat may
decrease your heating costs by up to 35% and your cooling costs by up to 25%. Set your thermostat as low as you can, while still staying comfortable in the winter and as high as comfortable in the summer. There are a few different models to select from so pick the one that best meets your schedule and needs.
If your schedule changes a lot, a 7-day model is probably your best solution. They give you the flexibility to set different programs for each day. These typically have four possible temperature stages per day.
There are also 5+2 and 5-1-1 models. These models are best if you maintain the same schedule on weekdays and a different one for weekends.
Selecting and Maintaining Your System
If you think you’re almost to the point where your system will need to be replaced, it’s a good idea to view all of your options so you can make an informed decision when the time arrives. Look at the SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) rating of air conditioners and the AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) of the furnaces. The higher the ratings, the higher the savings. As always, our furnace and A/C experts will help you make a well-informed decision that adapts to you and your needs.
If you’re not at that point, a simple furnace service and routine maintenance can keep your system running smoothly and efficiently. If you haven’t set up your furnace service for the year or are having any sort of questions about your system or options, give us a call at 940-202-1184.