Heating and Cooling Cost Savers to Help Lower Your Utility Bill

It can be difficult to keep your home at a comfortable temperature during the summer and winter seasons. Heating and cooling costs account for about 48% of the energy use in a typical U.S. home, and every year hundreds of dollars are lost due to energy wasted by heating and cooling systems. If you’re tired of spending hundreds of dollars on your energy bills, here are a few money saving tips that will help keep your house at the perfect temperature:

Add Insulation
Adding insulation materials in your home is one of the best ways to save money on utility bills, with overall savings of about 20 to 30% of monthly costs. Insulation minimizes the transfer of heat, keeping the hot air out during the summer, and the warm air in during the winter. Before you can put down insulation, you must make sure to seal all traditional ducts, which can have cooling losses as high as 40%.

Heating and Cooling System Maintenance
HVAC systems need regular maintenance in order to work as efficiently as possible. Neglected HVAC systems can cause a variety of problems, including the build up of dust or rusted parts. HVAC contractors suggest that a home’s heating and cooling systems should be checked at least once a year, and should be regularly cleaned to ensure max efficiency.

Adjust the Thermostat
Many homeowners pick a temperature to keep their thermostat at all times, only adjusting it when the weather begins to change. Instead of keeping your house one comfortable temperature at all times, try adjusting it to fit your daily schedule. Turn your heating down while your gone for the day, or throw a few extra blankets on your bed and turn the temperature down during the night.

Switch to High-Efficiency Systems
As the world is more aware of the effect that humans have on the environment, technology is advancing to create more efficient systems for homeowners. Switching to high-efficiency air conditioning systems and taking other actions to keep your home cool can reduce energy use for air conditioning by 20 to 50%. New, programmable thermostats allow homeowners to set their house’s temperature from their smartphone at any time, from anywhere. This means they can turn down the thermostat while they are at work, and turn it back up on the way home so it’s the right temperature by the time they arrive.