Take Control And Have
An Energy Efficient Home

Programmable Thermostat

If you want a more energy efficient home, a programmable thermostat is a huge help in order to experience energy savings.

These are great devices and easy to program. Once you have the temperatures and time frames input the rest takes care of itself.

You need to figure out what level of comfort you want to live with while at home and asleep and set it accordingly. Indicate the time of day and temperature for each time frame.

There is generally a winter and summer mode. Try to go a little above and below what you’re comfortable with to see if you can live with a lower temperature in the winter and higher temperature in the summer. You will find that you can definitely go lower with the heat at bedtime in the winter when you are under the covers. You will see based on your utility bill how this makes for an energy efficient home.

Programmable thermostats are one of the easiest ways to save money and are installed and operated with little complication. Once you understand the program, they’re really fairly simple to set up. And when they're up and running, you will feel like you not only save money with this little device but that you now live in an energy efficient home.

High Efficiency Furnace System

Consider replacing your furnace system if it is 15 years old or older with a high efficiency furnace. There are many brands and types of furnaces to consider that will give you a more energy efficient home once installed.

In the early 1990’s the government made it a minimum requirement that furnaces be 78% efficient meaning they convert 78% of their fuel into heat. This measurement of efficiency is called an Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) rating. Today, a 78% high efficiency furnace is the standard. Furnaces are currently available into the upper 90% efficiency range.

It would be wise for you to seek the advice of a qualified contractor to choose the correct size and efficiency rating for your home. These units are fairly expensive and will require and extended payback period but is still one of our energy conservation tips.

Humidity And Humidifiers

In winter, the steam generated by the bath, shower and cooking help make the available heat much more comfortable. Use exhaust fans sparingly in the winter. For added comfort install humidifiers that provide added humidity into your central heating and cooling system.

The opposite is true for the summer. Humidity in your home in the summer is what you don't want. This is what the air conditioner is removing from your home to make it more comfortable.

If you feel that you need added humidity to make the heat more comfortable in the winter, given you live in a climate that has winter, then have humidifier(s) installed on the furnace(s). This applies to above grade living areas only. A humidifier for finished areas in a basement area is not recommended or necessary in below grade or partial below grade conditions.

Ceiling Fans

Ceiling fans are a nice addition to any home and will help in all seasons to increase your home energy efficiency. Warm air rises to the ceiling and the ceiling fan can move it down where it can be appreciated in the winter.

In the summer reverse the direction of the fan and feel the gentle breeze which provides a cooling effect. Ceiling fans are relatively inexpensive and don’t require much energy to operate.But they can have you saving electricity and natural gas year round.

A note of caution. Ceiling fans do require the necessary support at the ceiling level to carry the weight. Confirm bracing is available prior to installation.

Go to Other Pages in This Series