Maintain your furnace and air conditioner.
Regular maintenance will keep your
heating, ventilation and air conditioning, or HVAC, system operating efficiently,
saving energy and money. Regularly
clean or replace the air filter
in your furnace, repair any leaks
in the duct system, and make sure
the radiators and baseboard air
ducts are clean and unobstructed
by rugs or furniture.
$ Factor:
Having a professional
tune up your system
-- every year for oil-fired
systems, every two years
for gas furnaces and
three years for heat
pumps, according to
the American Council
for an Energy Efficient
Economy -- will increase
the life of the system,
improve energy efficiency
and reduce pollutants.
Tip 41:
Know when to replace your appliances.
If
your furnace, air conditioner
or other major appliances
are more than 10 years
old, it may make sense
to replace them with
newer, more efficient
models. Americans spend
an average of $1,900
on energy every year.
Buying newer, Energy
Star-certified appliances
can save you at least
$30 a year.
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For instance, replacing a pre-1994 dishwasher with a new Energy Star model will save you $30 a year in energy costs. Replacing your pre-1994 washing machine with a new Energy Star model would save you $110 a year.
Tip 42:
Insulate the attic.
Boosting attic insulation gives you the most value for your dollar. The U.S. Department of Energy recommends attic insulation with an R-value of 22 to 49 in most houses. To check your insulation, measure the thickness. Seven inches of fiberglass or rock wool insulation and six inches of cellulose insulation are equal to an R-value of 22. In all but the mildest climates, the agency recommends adding more.
$ Factor:
Adding insulation can
cost up to $1,800 and
could reduce your heating
and cooling bills by
more than $100 a year.
If it is less than seven
inches, you may need
to add more. Also check
to see if there is a
vapor barrier under
the insulation. Vapor
barriers such as Kraft
paper, tarpaper and
plastic sheeting prevent
moisture from entering
the attic through the
house below. If there
is no vapor barrier,
you may want to paint
the home's ceilings
with a vapor barrier
paint to reduce potential
moisture damage to the
attic.
Tip 43:
Plant trees.
Planting deciduous trees -- those
that lose their leaves every year --
on the south, east or west sides
of your house will lower your heating
and cooling bills. The trees will
shade the house from the sun in
summer and then let in light to
warm the house in winter.
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Well-placed trees can save you $100 to $250 a year in energy costs, according to the Alliance to Save Energy. The cost to plant the trees varies by type and size.
Tip 44:
Get an energy audit.
Energy audits evaluate your home and look for ways to improve energy efficiency. You can hire a professional, or in some areas your gas or electric utility will do the audit for you. Inspectors often use thermography and other technologies to evaluate hidden leaks and insulation problems.
$ Factor:
Fixing
problem areas, such
as air leaks, can save
you between 5 percent and 30
percent in energy costs,
according to the U.S.
Department of Energy,
but you can perform
a basic energy audit
without any special
skills or equipment.
Energy: Long haul
