Home Updates and Technology to Help with Heating and Cooling Costs
Heating and cooling costs are the most common utilities in the United States, usually about $2,200 per year in a single-family home. About two-thirds of all homes having air conditioners while many also have central HVAC systems. There are many methods to cutting these costs, from changes in your system or energy source to simply improving your insulation.
Improve Energy Efficiency in the Home
With solar power, wind power, and other renewable energy options available there are many updates to be made to the home that can help reduce energy bills exponentially. These energy resources have the ability to help work with cutting heating and cooling costs as well as all others. Sometimes it can be almost a complete reduction. With about half of home energy going to heating and cooling, it is helpful to update energy efficiency in relation to heating and cooling.
Heating and Cooling Systems
One thing that is most related to heating and cooling costs in the home is the service that is needed for the heating and air conditioning or HVAC system. While the HVAC system may have been placed in a home at the beginning of construction, or even replaced after a heater or air conditioner failed. However, there is much to be considered for the movement toward an energy efficient home.
Energy efficiency solutions may include a number of different efforts, from the increase of sealing and insulating for up to 20% energy savings to ENERGY STAR qualified windows. You may have set energy efficiency goals for yourself, or for reduction of your utility costs, but certain things may be of the greatest step to help complete the improvement. You may be able to look into any of the following improvements to help reduce the heating and cooling costs, along with other utilities, in your home:
- Smart home technology
- Ecofriendly home technology
- Home climate
- Temperature preferences
Some of the issues that may help to cut heating and cooling costs may be easier than updating the energy sources to your home. There may not be any need to install a new energy system, but insulation and sealing may be done along with the ability to keep your thermostat at a better temperature. This would be a higher temperature in the summer and lower in the winter, as much as you can possibly be comfortable with. With many additional more efficient and inexpensive heating and cooling options, there are a number of things that can help to save a great deal of money on energy and utilities. No matter what can be done in relation to heating and cooling systems, there is much to be said for the cuts that can be made with these simple changes.
