What Can I Do to Lower My Energy Bills in Cambridge?
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 accounts for about 48% of your utility bill. Some of the best ways to start saving money don’t necessitate a large investment of money or time. If you haven’t scheduled your furnace service for the year, that’s a great place to start. We also have some additional tips that can help keep your expenses 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 often provided free-of-charge and assess everything that is present on your utility bill, from your heating and cooling system to your kitchen and laundry appliances. Most utility companies also have rebates for insulation and other items that can boost your home’s efficiency.
Smartly Program Your Programmable Thermostat
Thermostats have been improved a lot, and the technology behind them only continues to evolve. For example, the iComfort S30 is able to employ the GPS In your smartphone to detect when you’re leaving and makes the proper adjustment 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 kick off, your thermostat can make the correct adjustment.
The Department of Energy notes that a well programmed thermostat may
decrease your heating costs by up to 35% and your cooling costs by up to 25%. Set your thermostat as low as you can, while still staying comfortable in the winter and as high as comfortable in the summer. There are several different models to decide from so pick the one that best fits your schedule and needs.
If your schedule changes a lot, a 7-day model is probably your best solution. They give you the flexibility to set different programs for each day. These typically have four possible temperature phases each 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 almost to the point where your system ought to be replaced, it’s a good idea to research all of your options so you can make an informed decision when the time comes. View 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 higher the savings. As always, our furnace and A/C experts will help you make a well-informed decision that meets you and your needs.
If you’re not ready 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 possibilities, give us a call at 410-228-4822.