Save energy at home this fall
The days are getting shorter, the kids are back in school, and everything is suddenly pumpkin spiced. These are just some of the tell-tale signs of fall! Here are some of our top energy-saving tips to make sure your home is just as ready for sweater weather as you are:
- Have your furnace serviced to be sure it’s operating efficiently. Change the filter, too.
- Lower the temperature on your thermostat at night and when you’re not at home. This is especially easy to do with a programmable or smart thermostat.
- Stop air leakage in its tracks by caulking and sealing gaps around windows, doors, baseboards, and electrical outlets.
- If you have a wood fireplace, make sure the damper is closed when you’re not using your fireplace. This way, warm air won’t escape up your chimney. (Don’t forget to open it when you light your next cozy fire, though!)
- Use window insulating kits on the insides of your windows. They’re easy to install, relatively inexpensive, and help to reduce chilly drafts. Learn more about air sealing and weatherstripping by checking out this helpful article written by one of our engineers!
- Install LED bulbs. They use up to 80% less electricity and last up to 25 times longer than incandescent bulbs.
- Let the light in! Keep window blinds open during the day to take advantage of the sun’s warm rays.
- Properly using your natural gas equipment and appliances is important. Install a carbon monoxide (CO) detector that can alert you to dangerous levels of CO gas.
- Clean your vents, radiators, or baseboard heating so air flows efficiently.
- Adjust your heat recovery ventilator (HRV) control to match your ventilation needs. Also remember to adjust the humidity control seasonally. An advanced HRV control makes this easy, and we offer a $150 rebate. For tips on how to get the most out of your HRV, check out this helpful article.