Air Conditioning & Heating
Let’s face it—everyone is trying to cut costs and expenses. Some reduce the amount of travelling they do, some do not eat out as much, while other try to cut down utility costs in their homes.
Let’s face it—everyone is trying to cut costs and expenses. Some reduce the amount of travelling they do, some do not eat out as much, while others try to cut down utility costs in their homes.
Higher energy costs have created uncomfortable homes and uncomfortable residents. Here are some ways to conserve energy without sacrificing your comfort.
When it is hot outside
Move the air: When the weather is unbearably warm, ceiling fans provide an economical way to ensure that you remain comfortable. Moving the air around helps regulate the temperature in any space, whether large or small. Heat rises, causing the air conditioner to work overtime to try to cool off the ceilings. When a ceiling fan is running, it pushes the hot air down into the cooler space. As a result, your air conditioner doesn’t have to work harder than it has to.
Keep it under cover: Simply covering the air conditioner helps reduce your utility bill, too. If your air conditioner is always exposed to the hot sun, it can work harder because the Freon does not perform at its optimum level. A covered space can be 15 to 25 degrees cooler than an exposed one.
Creative insulation: Insulation comes in all forms, from the traditional “Pink Panther” fibreglass to blown-in fibres made from ground-up ceiling tiles. If this option is not practical, consider some lovely floor rugs or decorative tapestries. They will act as a barrier to the sunshine and heat by absorbing it and blocking its passage into the home.
Keeping the perception: Ceramic tiles or hardwood floors feel cooler than carpets. Consider changing out the living room and bedroom floors.
When it is cold outside
Keep moving the air: The ideas above to keep your home cool in the summer can be used during the winter months, too. You won’t need an air conditioner but will likely use a heater. Ceiling fans are designed to turn in both directions to either cool off hot air or heat up cool air. Keep those fans blowing; just change the direction they move.
Installed ceiling tiles will keep the heat in your home, too. The blown-in insulation you see in the stores is nothing more than this material ground up into a coarse substance. They are created for insulation, so they will work wonders in your home as well.
Area rugs also help keep feet warm with the bonus of being an attractive addition to your room. Well-placed area rugs can be taken out in the summertime and stored until needed the next winter.
Going green
Going green makes a lot of sense when trying to reduce utility bills. New types of heating/air conditioning options, economical dishwashers and light bulbs can help cut down your utility bills a lot.
CFL bulbs use roughly 20% more energy than their LED counterparts. Incandescent bulbs use a great deal more wattage than either LED or CFL, needing approximately 80% more watts than LEDs.
Instead of taking a bath, use the shower. You’ll spend less time in the bathroom and reduce water use. Highly rated Energy Star dishwashers use about 1/5 the amount of water compared to hand washing. Some of the high-end ones use even less water than that!
In conclusion
With energy rates soaring and people spending more time at home, it is important to find ways to save money without the expense of comfort. The above solutions will help you to improve the comfort of your home environment without blowing a hole in your pocket.