Not only are energy efficient homes a savvy choice for saving money, they are also the best way to incorporate ‘going green’ into your life.’ Saving money where possible will make a huge difference and of course, helping the environment is never a bad thing either.
Back to the Basics
Understanding some basic elements of energy efficiency is important and will save you a lot of headaches and money. When surveying your home, take into consideration things like your thermal envelope status, ventilation, doors, and windows and how those things utilize the current heating and cooling systems in place.
Thermal envelope measures everything to do with your doors to windows and all of them need to be inspected – preferably professionally – so you know which need to be replaced and which don’t to conserve on heat and cooling costs. Also survey the roofing, ventilation, and insulation. Proper ventilation can be the difference between hundreds of dollars going out the window and hundreds saved. Your thermal envelope will clearly show you how much heat or AC your home is currently retaining or losing.
Systems Efficiency
Everyone wants a home that is pleasantly cool in the summer and nice and warm in the winter. Achieving that without spending too much money or wasting too much energy depends very much upon the condition of the various components of your HVAC system.
Older air conditioners, boilers, hot water heaters and heat pumps (10 years and up) are far less energy efficient than newer models (and far less efficient in general in many cases) and so scheduling an evaluation of your current HVAC systems right now – when the winter cold is over but the summer heat has not quite arrived, so you are not making too much use of your heating or your A/C – is a good idea.
This is also a great time for a general service, especially as even the newest HVAC systems won’t perform at their best if they are not maintained properly.
Insulation
Insulation is the best way to ensure you are maximizing your heat. When evaluating your home take into consideration your home’s R-grades and R-values. The R-value of your home is how well the insulation holds and retains heat while the lower R grade or value retains less.
Replace Old Windows
Much of a home’s heat or air conditioning is lost through leaky windows. If your home has windows that are old, chipping or cracking, replace them immediately with newer, more energy efficient models now available. Though they are a bit more expensive, in the long run, the money you save on heating and cooling costs will be evident.
Install Air and Vapor Retarders
Water condensation can be hugely damaging to a home’s structure and when warm and cool air collides with a home’s walls it can cause condensation. Condensation often leads to wood rotting and mold. Retarders allow the airflow within the home to be distributed evenly so that it won’t gather on the home’s structure and cause damage.
Also consider purchasing and installing overhangs for your windows, particularly those on the southern end of your home as this area tends to get the most sunshine and there the temperature rises. Shading these areas will also make a difference in your bills.
Weatherize Your Home
Omission a thorough evaluation of your home so you can target some trouble spots such as tiny holes, small cracks and foundation separations all of which allow heat and AC to escape to the outside. Then begin patching and repairing those trouble spots, using weather stripping or by caulking. Surprisingly, those who take these small measures notice up to a 50% difference in their bills each month and who wouldn’t like that in return for a weekend’s DIY work?
If you have any questions about our range of services, please do not hesitate to contact us on 816-436-1000 or email us: service@arcticairkc.com. One of our friendly and knowledgeable staff members will be happy to assist you in any way they can and answer all your queries.