What Can I Do to Lower My Energy Bills in South Beloit and Belvidere?
If you’re wanting to save money, a great place to begin is right inside your home. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, heating and cooling your home normally is about 48% of your utility bill. Some of the best ways to start saving money don’t require a big investment of money or time. If you haven’t set up your furnace service for the year, that’s the perfect place to start. We also have a few additional tips that can help keep your bills as low as possible.
Schedule an Energy Audit
If you reach out to your local utility provider, they will come do an energy audit of your home. These services are usually provided free-of-charge and include everything that is present on your monthly bill, from your heating and cooling system to your kitchen and laundry appliances. A lot of utility companies also have rebates for insulation and other things that can improve your home’s efficiency.
Smartly Program Your Programmable Thermostat
Thermostats have come a long way, and the technology behind them only continues to evolve. For example, the iComfort S30 is able to utilize the GPS In your smartphone to determine when you’re leaving and makes the proper change to help you save money and increase efficiency while you’re not home. When you return home, everything returns to normal and you don’t have to worry about a thing. It’s also able to adjust to your routine, so when baseball and football seasons roll around, your thermostat can make the proper adjustment.
The Department of Energy notes that a well programmed thermostat could
lower your heating costs by up to 35% and your cooling costs by up to 25%. Set your thermostat as low as you can, while ensuring you’re comfortable in the winter and as high as comfortable in the summer. There are a few different models to select from so pick the one that best meets your schedule and needs.
If your schedule changes a lot, a 7-day model is probably your best bet. They provide you the flexibility to set different programs for each day. These usually have four possible temperature periods every day.
There are also 5+2 and 5-1-1 models. These models are ideal if you have the same schedule on weekdays and a separate one for weekends.
Selecting and Maintaining Your System
If you think you’re nearing the point where your system will need to be replaced, it’s a good idea to view all of your options so you can make an informed decision when the time necessitates. Check out the SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) rating of air conditioners and the AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) of the furnaces. The higher the ratings, the better the savings. As always, our furnace and A/C experts will help you make a well-informed decision that suits you and your needs.
If you’re not there yet, a simple furnace service and routine maintenance can keep your system operating smoothly and efficiently. If you haven’t set up your furnace service for the year or are having any sort of questions about your system or options, give us a call at 877-389-2465.