How We Use Energy In Our Homes (Based on the National Average)
You can become the MANAGER of this energy system.
You should take the positive steps to:
- Understand how your home’s energy system works, how each part affects the others.
- Detect and Correct energy waste, inefficiency, “leaks.”
- Maintain Peak Efficiency with a regular maintenance program.
- Use Energy Wisely by developing habits for energy conservation in everyday living.
By making your home as Energy-Efficient As Possible, you can—Save Money and Save Resources.
Begin By Inspecting Your House from top to bottom! Air infiltrates in and out of your home through every hole, nook and cranny. About one-third of this air infiltrates through openings in your ceilings, walls, and floors.
First, test your home for air tightness. On a windy day, hold a lit incense stick next to your windows, doors, electrical boxes, attic hatches, and other locations where there is a possible air path to the outside. If the smoke stream travels horizontally, you have located an air leak that may need caulking, sealing or weather stripping.
- Install storm windows, or double-pane windows. Storm windows can as much as double the R-value of single-pane windows and they help reduce drafts, water condensation, and frost formation. As a less costly and less permanent alternative, you can use a heavy duty, clear plastic film to the inside of your window frames during the cold winter months. Remember the plastic must be sealed tightly to the frame to help reduce infiltration.
- Add insulation to duct work located in unheated spaces, seal ducts to prevent leaks. Leaking ducts can add hundreds of dollars a year to your heating and cooling bills. Insulate your home fully for the most efficient energy conservation.
- Close off unoccupied rooms. However, do not turn the heating off if it adversely affects the rest of your system. For example, if you heat your home with a heat pump, do not close the vents—doing so could harm the heat pump.
- Use a programmable thermostat. Locate thermostats on inside walls, away from drafts.
- Set your thermostat as low as is comfortable in the winter and as high as is comfortable in the summer. Dress to suit the weather.
- Clean or replace filters on furnaces and air conditioners once a month or as needed.
- Clean warm-air registers, baseboard heaters, and radiators as needed.
- Use drapes to keep out heat in summer and to keep heat in during winter.
- Set water heater temperature at 120 degrees. Use cold water whenever possible. Take showers instead of baths, limiting it to 5 minutes or use low flow showerhead.
- Grow a windbreak of trees and shrubs which will help break the force of winter winds and shade trees keep you cooler naturally.
- Select energy efficient equipment when buying new heating and cooling equipment