You’ve probably already established some good habits that help you save energy, such as turning off the lights when you leave the room and only running the dishwasher when it’s full. While these are a good start, you can do more! Home performance and indoor air quality testing company Building Performance Professionals shares some of the ways you may be unintentionally wasting energy.
Ghost Loads — Leaving your electronics plugged in on “standby” mode may be convenient, but even in this mode they still consume a small amount of energy–also known as a ghost load–which can add up over time. While many of them, such as cordless telephones, need to stay plugged in, others such as televisions can be unplugged when not in use.
Dirty Air Filters — HVAC air filters should ideally be replaced every three months, or up to once a month during seasons of heavy use. Neglecting to replace air filters can result in reduced airflow, which creates an unnecessary increase in your HVAC system’s workload that leads to higher energy bills.
Leaky Windows and Entry Doors — Small gaps around the window and door frames allow air to leak out (and in), which results in heat loss during cold seasons and heat gain during hot seasons. Your HVAC system then consumes more energy to make up for the loss. Window replacement specialists can help you determine if your windows and doors need to be resealed or if they’re due for replacement.
Inefficient Light Bulbs — Light bulbs consume a relatively small amount of energy individually, but when you consider how many lights you use in your kitchen, bathroom and bedroom at any given time, you can see how that energy adds up. If you’re still using inefficient light bulbs, don’t wait until they burn out to replace them. Upgrading to LED bulbs will provide you the same amount of lighting at a fraction of the energy cost.
Not Using Your Fans — Many homeowners think ceiling and standalone fans should only be used when the air conditioning is turned off. Using your fans in conjunction with your HVAC system, however, can actually help save you energy. The increased airflow allows conditioned air to spread throughout the room faster and more evenly, which helps reduce your HVAC system’s workload. In addition, since heat tends to rise, ceiling fans are ideal for use during the fall and winter seasons for pushing warm air back down into the room.
Building Performance Professionals is your leading provider of home performance services, including home air quality testing. Give us a call at (925) 495-0054 or fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment.