What Can I Do to Lower My Energy Bills in Alliance?
If you’re trying 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 makes up 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 arranged for your furnace service for the year, that’s a great place to start. We also have a few additional tips that can help keep your bills 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 typically provided free-of-charge and assess everything that is showing up on your utility bill, from your heating and cooling system to your kitchen and laundry appliances. A lot of utility companies also can provide rebates for insulation and other things that can increase your home’s efficiency.
Smartly Program Your Programmable Thermostat
Thermostats have been improved a lot, and the technology behind them only continues to expand. For example, the iComfort S30 is able to employ the GPS In your smartphone to determine when you’re leaving and makes the proper adjustment to help you save money and increase efficiency while you’re not home. When you return home, everything goes back to normal and you don’t have to worry about making any changes. It’s also able to learn your routine, so when baseball and football seasons roll around, your thermostat can make the proper adjustment.
The Department of Energy says that a well programmed thermostat can
lower your heating costs by up to 35% and your cooling costs by up to 25%. Set your thermostat as low as you can, while remaining comfortable in the winter and as high as comfortable in the summer. There are a number of different models to decide from so pick the one that best meets your schedule and needs.
If your schedule changes quite a bit, a 7-day model is likely your best choice. They give you the flexibility to set different programs for each day. These normally have four possible temperature periods per day.
There are also 5+2 and 5-1-1 models. These models are ideal if you maintain the same schedule on weekdays and another for weekends.
Selecting and Maintaining Your System
If you think you’re nearing the point where your system should be replaced, it’s a good idea to take a look at 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 greater the savings. As always, our furnace and A/C professionals will help you make a well-informed decision that adapts to you and your needs.
If you’re not ready yet, 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 possibilities, give us a call at 308-321-4703.