What are some tips to be Energy efficient?

HI Meghan, Closing blinds on hot days keeps the sun from coming in and heating the house. I keep the windows closed, too, (even if I am not using the A/C ) because that keeps the hot air out. A dehumidifier gets rid of the moisture in the air and that is helpful to keep it cooler. In the winter you can keep the blinds and curtains closed to keep the cold out. If you use ceiling fans, make sure you have the fans going the right way to either pull air up or down.

Good luck, there are lots of different ideas that people have and hopefully folks will chime in!

the number one best thing to do is buy and set up black out shades. this will cut your AC bill tremendously! granted, lighting becomes an issue, but that will cost much less than HVAC.

examine your windows, caulk them if needed. add weather stripping to your doors.

Hi Meghan,

Also check your electrical outlets and switches if they are on your outside walls of your home. They can actually let in a lot of cold air in the winter. There are insulation pads made especially for these outlets & switches that will help. Be sure to check around doors & windows and caulk any places that are not tight. Depending on how much sunlight comes into a room, you'll want to block it in the summer, but let it come through the windows in the winter - especially if there are windows on the south side of your home. The sun can bring extra warmth into those rooms.

Little things can also help. For example, make sure that there is not a lamp near your thermostat. While newer light bulbs don't give off much heat, older lights can give off enough heat to affect the thermostat. Speaking of thermostats, most people set their heat too high and their A/C too low. The recommendation is 70 for heat and 78 for cooling, but you can put a sweater on and set heat between 65 & 68 or wear lighter weight clothing and set the A/C to 80. When you leave the house or overnight, change the heat in the winter to 8 degrees lower. If you have an automatic thermostat, you can set it at 55 degrees while you sleep and have it warm the house automatically before you get up. (that's more than 8 degrees for most people) Many thermostats start that reheating process an hour before the time you want the house heated so check your thermostat's manual so you know how to set it. You reap the most rewards if the lower setting is for 7 hours or more. Most automatic thermostats allow you to set the weekdays separately from the weekends. If everyone works or goes to school on weekdays, set the heat low during the day, then set it to warm up before everyone gets home. Set the weekends differently to accommodate your lifestyle. Good luck and wishing you the best.

If you don’t like to run your AC all the time, use fans after dark to suck IN the cool night air then close the windows first thing in the morning to trap in the cool air. Also lots of the new thermostats program so when you are at work it shuts air down. We have the house programmed with the new electronics which actually sense when people are in the home so when we are on vacation it stays at a sensible temp. Ours is called Nest but there are lots of cool options out there. Just see which are most compatible to your cel phones, and wifi.

Also to save more money unplug as many appliances or lamps etc when not in use. This alone could drop you bill down to approx 30 to 40 dollars a month. Also use good power strips to plug in more than 1 item. This also helps to keep cost down. Have your utility co come out and take a look at your appliances Windows and any other place air may be leaking. They do this for free.

Change your Hvac filters frequently, especially during ac season and have it cleaned properly. It's amazing how many people don't maintain the most expensive appliances in the home. This will improve your energy efficiency. Also, it's much more efficient to turn on your ac and keep it at a maintenance temp rather than turning it on when it gets hot.

Also consider insulated drapes. Target and Walmart and others carry a large selection at reasonable prices. These will help; you just have to keep them closed, which I never liked to do. Replacing my 17-year-old central heat and air unit did more good than anything. Also check with your electric provider for rate packages. Trees/porches/canopies to shade windows are also good.

If you have a hot water heater, as most people do, make sure you are not heating the water hotter than you need to, temperatures are adjustable on them.

My local electric company does a free energy effeciency test, where they look for leaks. They put up weatherstripping, gave me new light bulbs, added insulation to the attic. I have black out curtains and blinds on all windows. I keep my thermostat on 77 in the day and 75 at night to sleep. Fans are on all day. I do not use the oven on hot days and I run the washer and dryer at night.

Check all you insulation. Invest in installing good insulation and it will save you tremendously over time. Check all the seals around door and windows. Check all outlets and around piping (kitchen and bath). Keep all your HVAC clean and well maintained (change filters and service regularly). Keep your vents and returns clean.

Only heat the rooms that you occupy!