Did you know that about half of your household energy costs go towards just two things—heating and cooling. Additionally, and ironically, air conditioners inject additional carbon into the air and increase global warming.
However, even small changes make dramatic improvements in household fuel efficiency. That means we can all do something.
Because older heating and cooling systems are a third less efficient than the new systems, replacing the old with the new is a great idea, but it is not very practical for most of us. In the meantime, here are some things you can do right now to make sure you're setting the right temperature in your house:
- Tune up your heating system. This one thing every couple of years can reduce your heating costs by 10 percent a year.
- Clean vents, close unused vents, and change filters regularly in the vents. Again, just these simple things will save you 10 percent.
- Buy a programmable thermostat, which can regulate different temperatures at different times of the day. If you have one, make sure to use it. Believe it or not, three-quarters of people who have programmable thermostats don't use them at all!
- Add two degrees to the AC thermostat in summer, and lower the thermostat two degrees in winter. If everyone did this, the cumulative impact would be significant.
- Check windows and doors to make sure they are sealed. This will dramatically improve your household fuel efficiency. Ceiling fans, instead of AC, can reduce your cooling costs by more than half.
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