Like many Dayton area residents, you probably have at least some worries about the environmental state of the world you live in. The good news is that you have the ability to take some simple steps that will make a difference. Want to know how to help? Consider these simple energy- and resource-saving tips:
- Seal air leaks. This weekend, spend a couple hours to plug up any leaks around doors, windows and electrical outlets with the right type of weatherstripping, caulking or expandable foam sealant, depending on the type and size of leak. Properly sealing your home’s air ducts can significantly reduce your home’s energy usage, as well. The less energy you use, the better for our planet (and your wallet).
- Conserve hot water. Fifteen percent of the average household’s energy usage goes to heating water. Multiply this by the more than 130 million homes in the U.S., and you’re talking about gigantic consumption. Avoid using hot water to rinse dishes before they get loaded into the dishwasher and implement five-minute showers. If a new water heater is in your future, select a modern hybrid or energy-efficient model. Turn the temperature on the water heater down to 120 degrees for more energy savings.
- No more incandescent lighting. Incandescent light bulbs are being nationally phased out, but they can still be found on supermarket shelves. Perhaps the easiest of our energy- and resource-saving tips is to start buying more efficient CFL and LED lighting options. These have a much lower environmental impact and will reduce your home energy bills.
- Be thermostat-aware. If you haven’t already, check into installing a programmable thermostat for your HVAC system. These nifty devices automatically adjust inside temperatures according to occupant schedules. Each degree of consistently applied energy-saving temperature setbacks can reduce energy costs by 2 percent.
- Take advantage of natural cooling. When the nights and mornings are cool, open up your house to allow the outside air to cool things off. Just remember to close up the house before it starts getting hot outside.
To learn more about energy- and resource-saving tips, please contact us at Ace Hardware Home Services, Inc., the leading HVAC specialists in the Dayton and Springfield areas.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Dayton, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
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