Can you imagine what lower energy consumption can do for you and your home? Not only will it help save you money, but it will also help your home maintain cooling and heating, to keep you and your family comfortable. Although some people may think that lowering your energy consumption will also lessen the comfort in your home, that’s not completely true. You can decrease energy consumption just by removing energy-wasting elements.
Energy Audit
In order to find out where your energy usage is going to waste, you need to run a home energy audit. An energy audit is essentially an inspection of how energy flows and is used in a home, taking into consideration factors that can be addressed to improve energy efficiency in cooling and heating. An audit of your home’s energy efficiency will include comprehensive overviews of your walls, floors, doors, ceilings, and even skylights. This is to determine a leakage rate, which affects the energy consumption of your home.
The energy audit will also show you whether or not your heating and cooling systems are working properly, whether door seals and weather stripping are doing their jobs, and if your insulation is properly installed. Once the audit is complete, you will know what changes need to be made in order for your home’s thermal performance to improve.
Adopting Energy Saving Measures
Aside from an energy audit, you will also want to adopt energy saving habits. These include the following:
- Make a Habit of Turning Off – If a room is empty, turn the lights off. If a computer is not in use, turn it off. Turning off electronics when they are not being used will help save you hundreds of dollars in energy costs.
- Unplug Anything Not in Use – If you want to go a step further, unplug electronics that are not being used. Even when some appliances are turned off, they still consume energy if left plugged in. Some people call this an energy vampire, while others call it an energy leak. Whatever term is used, in order to prevent energy from going to waste and increasing your energy costs, unplugging is recommended.
- Use Power Strips – If unplugging is too tedious, consider using power strips that you can switch off when not in use. Although they are still plugged in, power strips stop electricity from flowing when the switch is off.
- Cut Down on Water Usage – There are some easy and effortless ways to cut down on water usage. Trim a few minutes off your daily shower, wait until the dishwasher and washing machine are full before running them, water your plants personally, instead of leaving a sprinkler out for a few hours.
- Insulate – Windows can be a major culprit in energy loss in your home. Some older style windows lack the same insulation provided in those manufactured today. In addition, if the foundation surrounding your windows is not secure, you could be letting outside air in (and your inside air out) without realizing it. If upgrading your windows isn’t an option, you might want to consider purchasing inexpensive window insulation kits from your hardware store during the hot summer months and cold winter months. Check exterior doors for broken seals or weather stripping and replace as needed. Inexpensive draft blockers are also available if you are looking for an easier or more temporary solution.
These are just a few habits you can adopt to help lower your energy costs. Other things to consider include using more energy efficient lighting options, using appliances effectively, and having an energy monitoring meter in your home.
TriState Home Services offers $100 Energy Audits for Maryland Energy Rebate Customers (for homes up to 3000 sq. Ft. with one heating and cooling system).
To request an energy audit or to discover how you can save on energy costs in Frederick, MD or surrounding areas, contact TriState Home Services today at (301) 228-0286 . We can help you address these energy wasting issues in your home with services that include insulation, air sealing, ductwork, and more.