Fall Energy Savings Are Possible in Your Tinley Park Home With These 15 Tips

With the fall season finally upon us, it’s time for Tinley Park homeowners to start cracking down on energy usage. Although we can’t force you to make any changes, what we can do is offer you some tips on how to achieve fall energy savings this year.

Upgrade to a New Furnace

While furnaces are definitely built to last, sooner or later you’re going to need an upgrade. Although purchasing a new system is a costly endeavor, you can take comfort in knowing that newer models backed by Energy Star are much more energy-efficient than their predecessors.

Switch to a Renewable Energy Source

If you really want to make an impact on energy usage while helping the environment, the installation of a renewable energy source is definitely a great move. Systems that use geothermal and solar energy, for example, will lower your bills and pay for themselves before you know it.

Schedule a Tuneup

If your furnace doesn’t need to be replaced quite yet, you should call a professional HVAC technician to tune it up. In fact, a tune-up should be done once every year, and the beginning of fall is the perfect time. This will prolong the life of the system and keep it running more efficiently.

Consider a Programmable Thermostat

Being able to set the days and times during which your heating equipment switches on and off simply can’t be beat when it comes to getting your energy usage under control.

Upgrade to a Wi-Fi Thermostat

Or perhaps we spoke too soon. Not only are Wi-Fi thermostats programmable, they can be accessed remotely either through the Internet or with the use of a Wi-Fi connection on a downloadable smartphone application, in addition to several other functions intended to save energy.

Install a Zoning System

If you have a multi-story home or find that only one or two rooms are usually occupied at any given time, you may benefit from the use of a zoning system. This allows you to split your home into different zones and concentrate your heating efforts only on the zones you designate. This technique will help lower your furnace’s usage.

Set the Temperature at 68

When you’re at home, the ideal temperature to help control energy costs is 68 degrees. Another fall energy savings tip to remember in regards to your thermostat is that for each degree you lower the temperature, you will save approximately 2 percent on your heating bill.

Look for Air Leaks

Air leakage can lead to a huge waste of energy as your furnace strives to keep your home warm by operating at longer intervals. Gaps around your doors and windows, in addition to tears and disconnected joints in your ductwork, are all notorious for air leakage. Fix these problem areas and you’ll make progress when attempting to save energy.

Fill Your Dishwasher

Since your dishwasher uses quite a bit of hot water to run a load, make sure that it’s as full as possible before you run it. Plus, you’ll save on the amount of water and electricity you use.

Fill Your Clothes Washer

Same goes for your washing machine. In addition to saving water and electricity, washing only full loads can save you the energy needed to wash clothes in warm or hot water.

Avoid Taking Baths

While baths can be soothing, they also represent a huge waste of water and energy. The alternative is to take showers. Just make sure they last no longer than five minutes to maximize savings.

Switch to CFLs or LEDs

Compact Fluorescent Lamps and Light-Emitting Diodes are much more energy-efficient than the traditional bulbs we’ve been using in our homes for years. Plus, they come in a variety of styles and sizes to fit nearly every need.

Open Your South-Facing Windows

One of the easiest-to-follow of the fall energy savings tips is the opening of your home’s south-facing windows. This allows natural heating to occur from the sunlight, lessening your need to run the furnace or other heating equipment.

Set Your Water Heater to Medium

A water heater’s high setting isn’t needed, unless you want to scald yourself. The medium setting will work perfectly for your household.

Insulate Your Water Heater

If you wrap your water heater in a blanket, you’ll lower its heat loss.

For more expert advice on fall energy savings or other home comfort issues, contact the professionals at Climate Masters Mechanical Contractors, Inc. We’ve been serving Chicagoland and its surrounding suburbs for more than 23 years.

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