Heating and cooling account for more than 50% of home energy consumption. If you are paying a lot in the name of energy bills, your HVAC system is most likely the primary cause. It is vital to cut down on the energy consumption of utilities to save money (and energy). Energy companies such as American Power and Gas, suggest consumers and homeowners pay special attention to their HVAC system. as heating and cooling cost make up about 40% of your energy bills.
It may also be wise to consider switching to a system that operates on solar or other forms of renewable energy––Providing if it can be afforded.
Here are some ways you can reduce HVAC energy consumption:
Programmable Thermostat to The Rescue
HVAC system design can be made to consume less energy with the help of programmable thermostats.
The DOE recommends reducing room temperature to 15 degrees in winters when you are not home for 8-10 hours. Similarly, they suggest increasing the temperature by around 15 degrees in summers when you are not going to be home for half the day. This will help you save about 15% more energy annually.
The benefit that programmable thermostat gives you is that you won’t have to manually adjust the temperature every day. You can simply program it to change the temperature and save energy. It also has the added plus of operating on a timer so you don’t have to worry about leaving it on throughout the day.
Maintain The Coils Of Your AC Unit
The outdoor unit of the AC can allow dirt and debris to pass through it and gather around the coils and reduce the efficiency of the AC, as a result the unit consumes more energy to keep the room cool.
Keep your outdoor unit clean from dirt, fallen leaves, and other debris to make it work perfectly. If you believe that your outdoor unit needs cleaning, shut it off and use a vacuum to pull out all the dirt.
Inspect Air Filters
Air filters need special attention as they can get blocked due to dirt and debris. They need to be replaced every season as damaged filters put extra pressure on the unit causing energy to be wasted.
Other than this, you should also replace the filters every now and then. This is not a very tough job and you can do it on your own.
Here’s how to do it:
- Remove the filter and check for debris stuck in the filters.
- Keep the filters under light to see if it’s able to pass through. If it doesn’t then you will have to wash the filters.
- Clean the filters with a toothbrush, or another such tool first.
- Put the filters in soapy water for a few hours, dry and see if the light passes again. If it does then you can re-apply those, otherwise, you may have to change the air filters.
The average life expectancy of air filters is about 2 to 3 months if they aren’t maintained. Otherwise, they can easily run for a year.
Out With The Old, In With The New
HVAC systems can be costly but if you have been using one for more than 10 years now then it’s time to replace it with a modern and an energy efficient HVAC system.
A Clean Way to Cool Down
You can also consult with your energy provider regarding making the switch to renewable energy services. You can also look into energy storage systems such as Tesla’s solar panels that can drastically cut your power bill and provide clean sustainable energy for your home.
The Verdict
Around 48% of US home energy consumption is directly attributable to HVAC use and heating or cooling. These are some of the most efficient ways which you can reduce the amount of energy consumed by your HVAC system.
Really interesting read! Agree with you, proper maintenance is vital for keeping energy consumption low. For this, one should be on the lookout for warning signs. These could be presence of moisture, strange sounds and odor and poor air flow.
When replacing your heating system, make sure you choose the system that aligns with your needs. I know that many people mistakenly install larger heating systems for their homes, thinking it will help reduce energy bills. In fact, this is one of the most common mistakes people make when trying to save energy around the house. An oversized unit may short cycle, causing it to turn on and off frequently, which can waste energy.