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The cost of living is going up, and that includes the cost to heat and cool your home. Rather than suffer through unnecessarily high bills just to keep your home at the right temperature, you can benefit from the right changes to your HVAC system. Here are four upgrades to your HVAC system that will bring your bill down without sacrificing your comfort and health. In fact, you’ll actually improve your system overall!
Smart or Programmable Thermostat
Keeping your house at the right temperature is more than getting it right once. Your needs change with daily and weekly routines. When you’re home, your comfort level varies depending on your activity level, clothing and personal preference. While the house is empty, you don’t need to keep it at comfort levels; you can lower heating temperatures and increase cooling temperatures. A smart or programmable thermostat allows you to set this in advance and make changes as you learn your habits and what works for you. This simple change will save you money that would otherwise be wasted.
High Efficiency Furnace and AC
There’s no way to get around the need to heat and cool your home with energy consuming equipment. Just how much energy is used depends on the equipment itself. If your furnace or AC is at or near its end of life and you’re looking for a replacement, consider a high efficiency option. This will pay off in spades as you keep your home at the right conditions for less.
Energy Recovery Ventilator
When you rely on infiltration to replace exhaust air that’s extracted by exhaust fans, your HVAC system has to heat or cool that air from outside conditions to get it comfortable. This, of course, consumes energy while the exhaust air “hijacks” your previously heated or cooled air. An energy recovery ventilator will transfer some of that exhaust air energy to the incoming fresh air, reducing the load on your furnace or AC.
Ductwork Modifications
Cold and hot spots in your home cost you more than just comfort. Having to add supplemental heat or open a window to balance an overheated spot is a waste of energy and money. The right modifications to your distribution system will take care of hot and cold spots, making your system more efficient overall and lowering your energy bill.
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