Easy Ways To Save Energy, Money and the Environment

If you notice that your energy bills seem high in your Wilmington, North Carolina, home or office, there are several simple ways to save energy without affecting your lifestyle or comfort. By using less energy, you spend less on utility bills and save money. Using less energy reduces pollution and helps the environment.

Optimize HVAC Efficiency

Heating and air conditioning account for approximately 42% of home energy usage. Proper maintenance is one of the simplest ways to reduce HVAC energy usage.

• Keeping air filters clean reduces the amount of energy a system uses by up to 15%.
• Poorly maintained systems use up to 60% more energy.
• Programmable thermostats can reduce HVAC energy usage by approximately 10% annually. To optimize results, program in settings that correspond to your lifestyle, such as using setbacks when you’re away for several hours at a time and at night. Program the thermostat to bring temperatures to comfortable settings before you return home or wake up in the morning.
• Use ceiling fans. In the summer, you can raise the temperature of the AC thermostat by 4 degrees without loss of comfort. Turn fans off when you leave a room.
• Sealing ducts can reduce energy usage by approximately 20%.

Regulate Sunlight

Use the warmth of the sun to help heat your home in winter. In the summer, regulate sunlight during the heat of the day to reduce the load on your HVAC system. Closing drapes can reduce heat gain by approximately 33% in the summer and heat loss by up to 25% in the winter.

Use Power Strips

Many appliances draw power even when they are turned off. Rather than unplugging each appliance to reduce phantom loads, plug several into a power strip. Turning the power strip off when equipment is not in use can save approximately $100 a year on electricity costs.

Pleasant Air Inc. provides an array of heating and cooling services, including new HVAC installations and air duct cleaning and sealing. We can evaluate the energy usage in your home or office and recommend ways to save energy. Call today to find out more about how saving energy also saves money and the environment.

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