Energy Saving

ENERGY SAVING STRATEGIES

• By doing all these things to your home, your utility bills should drop by half! All the upgrades can be done by you except the installation of high efficiency A/C.

Water Heater

• Wrap your water heater with an insulating “blanket” and turn the temperature down to 120 or lower and install a timer (electric heaters only).
• Replace tank if more than 15 yrs. old! (unless you like an indoor swimming pool)

Heating and A/C

• Install a high efficiency A/C and setback thermostat.
• Have system checked for air leaks-most homes lose 25-30% of their cooling into the attic this way!
• Replace “allergy” type filters if you have one, they raise your elec. bill because they’re too restrictive–your system can’t “breathe” properly.
• Keep your A/C filter clean and make sure it is properly installed (the filters which install in the bottom of vertical furnaces are commonly mis-installed, allowing air to bypass the filter and clog the cooling coil).
• Have the inside coils checked & cleaned if dirty–dirty coils are a big cause of high elec. Bills.
• Turn off your gas furnace pilot in the Summer.
• Have an energy audit done at your home, it is probably an energy “hog”.

Ceiling Fans

• Install ceiling fans and use them only if you are in the room (each one degree you raise your thermostat in the Summer saves you 3% on your cooling bills.

Sprinklers and Plumbing

• Put a rain switch on your sprinkler system.
• Install low-flow toilets free from the City of Austin, these DO work!
• Replace leaking flapper valve inside your commode tank. (if your toilet comes on every so often for no reason)

Insulation

• Have the attic insulation increased to at least R-30 and install a radiant barrier (tinfoil like material) on the bottom of the rafters (reflects the sun’s heat).
• Install solar screens (South & West sides only), but remember to remove them in the Winter so the sun can passively heat your home.
• Install storm doors.
• Put insulating foam “liners” behind all switch and plug covers.
• Replace damaged weather stripping at exterior doors.
• Make sure your attic is property ventilated (look at your energy audit)–many homes have NO air vents under the eaves, these are critical!

Kitchen

• Buy and use a toaster oven, instead of heating up your whole kitchen.

Lighting

• Use the new round fluorescent light bulbs, these are not cheap but last longer, are cooler and put out more light.

Fireplace

• Check to make sure your fireplace damper is closed (sucks out a lot of air).