As promised, here’s more on our series of helpful energy saver tips for the home.
Weatherize! This means sealing windows and doors to prevent leaks of warm or cool air.
Keep your thermostat at a reasonable temperature. 68 degrees F or lower in the winter, and 78 degrees F or higher in the summer.
Use more clothes and blankets in the winter and turn the thermostat way down at night.
Install a programmable thermostat to better control the temperature in your home. See this site for more info.
Use electric space heaters in the rooms that you spend the most time in. Turn down the thermostat for the rest of the house.
Adobe blocks are an effective passive solar technology. Abode stays cool in the summer, too. See more here.
Install Ceiling Fans. This will create a “wind chill effect.” They are especially nice over your bed on warm summer nights.
Buy a new, energy-saving air conditioner or energy-efficient heat pump. Depending on how old your current model is, the payback with energy savings can be as quick as a couple of years.
Install a screen to shade your air-conditioning unit. Make sure that it doesn’t interfere with operation.
Change air conditioning and furnace filters frequently. Dirty filters make them work harder. Regular maintenance in general will make your air conditioner and furnace run smoother and cost you less.
