Ask any homeowner in Lawton, OK if they’d like to save money on their monthly energy bills, and chances are you’ll get a resounding “yes” from practically everyone. No one wants to spend more each month than they have to on utilities, yet it happens all the time. Many people don’t even realize they’re overspending on bills, which leads to years of wasted money. Naturally, the more steps we can take towards finally reducing energy loss, the more money we’ll save.
Not sure how to get started? Here are three effective strategies for lowering your monthly bills:
1. Insulate and Air Seal Your Home
While there are a number of home performance upgrades that can boost energy efficiency, none is as important as insulation and air sealing. Both separate projects, the two truly work hand-in-hand with one another to keep conditioned (that is, heated and cooled) air from escaping and unconditioned air from entering the home year-round. Many people are shocked to see the immediate differences once they finally insulate and air seal their homes, and it’s generally our first recommendation for lowering monthly energy bills.
2. Maintain Your HVAC System
When you first install heating and cooling systems in a home, you expect that they’ll run for many years without encountering any issues. This isn’t typically true, however, as even the best HVAC systems on the market require regular maintenance in order to operate at peak performance. Maintaining your HVAC system on a regular basis will help to prevent malfunction, keeping you and your family safe, healthy and comfortable throughout the whole year.
3. Install “Smart” Technology
Technology has changed the way we live our lives, and it continues to have a huge impact on overall home performance. If you’re not familiar with the concept of “vampire appliances,” the term applies to any electronic item that continues to suck power from the home when plugged in. Smart power strips can put this problem to rest, low-flow “smart” showerheads will reduce the amount of water you utilize on a daily basis, and advanced thermostats will help keep your home at the right temperature level. As technology continues to advance, “smart” home solutions will only become more integral to our lives at home.
4. Schedule an Equipment Assessment
Making sure your equipment is operating at maximum potential is one of the most often overlooked aspects of home performance. The reality is, most furnaces are under fired, and most air conditioners are not charged properly. In conjunction with this, the majority of residential duct systems are undersized and poorly designed. A typical system averages only 57% of the airflow! That means 43% of the heating and cooling you are paying for is wasted.