Is Your Home Damaging the Environment?

On average, homeowners spend more than $2000 every year on their energy bills, and half

of that goes directly into heating and cooling the home.

Most of the electricity used by homeowners comes from power plants that burn fossil fuels

to create the electricity.

When you are able to reduce the use of electricity in your home, you’ll effectively help to

reduce the amount of emissions created by power plants.

Through responsible heating and cooling decisions, you can reduce those costs and fight

global warming, both while improving your family’s comfort at home.

Your Share of Greenhouse Emissions

According to the EPA, your home could be generating double the amount of of greenhouse

gas emissions

that your car makes.

If this bothers you, then you’ll want to take a look at some of the best ways to improve the

efficiency of your heating and cooling system.

The EPA also recommends that homeowners contact HVAC professionals to schedule annual

servicing of the heating and cooling systems before you begin to use them.

This attention can prolong the use of the appliance for up to 20 years.

The Need for Maintenance

Proper maintenance on your heating and cooling system can also provide you with some

financial benefits.

A well-cared-for appliance costs much less to operate.

Of course, a little bit of TLC will reduce the number of repairs, the severity of damages,

and the cost of any necessary work.

This also means that on-going maintenance will reduce any inconveniences your family

might suffer because of disruptions in HVAC operations.

Improve Efficiency, Reduce Emissions

There are a few steps you can take to further improve your home’s efficiency.

For example, by checking your filter monthly and changing it as necessary, you’ll avoid

unnecessary costs.

A dirty filter creates an airflow barrier, leading to a build-up in your equipment and forcing

the machinery to work harder.

Scheduling a yearly tune-up for both the furnace and the A/C equipment will improve their

performance.

Learn to put your windows and doors to good use, either by stopping up cracks or using them

to create improved ventilation.

Upgrade to double-pane windows and put weather-proofing around the doors.

Choose Professionals

According to Energy.gov, you can save money and enjoy a more comfortable home when you

arrange proper maintenance and care for your HVAC equipment.

This typically involves hiring professionals, such as King Heating, to oversee the maintenance

and necessary upgrades on your equipment.

You should also schedule a yearly energy audit.

These experts can also help you identify heating and cooling equipment with great Annual Fuel

Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) ratings and learn to compare those ratings to current efficiency

standards.

You probably already know the importance of choosing appliances with the ENERGY STAR

identification.

Better Safe Than Sorry

What do you know about economizers, evaporator coils, programmable thermostats, and other

components of your HVAC system?

You might be aware of what one or two of these components are, but there’s a good chance that

you aren’t familiar with how the items can affect the overall system.

If you tamper with your system without knowing what you’re doing, you could actually cause

damage to the system, open your home up to unnecessary risk, and send even more emissions