Heat & Cool Efficiently
As much as half of the energy used in your home goes to heating and cooling. So making smart decisions about your
home’s heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system can have a big effect on your utility bills — and your
comfort.
Change your air filter regularly
Check your filter every month, especially during heavy use months (winter and summer). If the filter looks dirty after a
month, change it. At a minimum, change the filter every 3 months. A dirty filter will slow down air flow and make the
system work harder to keep you warm or cool — wasting energy. A clean filter will also prevent dust and dirt from
building up in the system — leading to expensive maintenance and/or early system failure.
Tune up your HVAC equipment yearly
Just as a tune-up for your car can improve your gas mileage, a yearly tune-up of your heating and cooling system can
improve efficiency and comfort.
Install a programmable thermostat
A programmable thermostat is ideal for people who are away from home during set periods of time throughout the
week. Through proper use of pre-programmed settings, a programmable thermostat can save you about $180 every
year in energy costs.
Ask about Proper Installation of your new equipment
Replacing your old heating and cooling equipment with new, energy-efficient models is a great start. But to make sure
that you get the best performance, the new equipment must be properly installed. In fact, improper installation can
reduce system efficiency by up to 30 percent costing you more on your utility bills and possibly shortening the
equipment’s life.
