What Can I Do to Lower My Energy Bills in Franklin Lakes?
If you’re trying to save money, a great place to start is right inside your home. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, heating and cooling your home typically accounts for about 48% of your utility bill. Some of the best ways to start saving money don’t necessitate a big investment of money or time. If you haven’t set up your furnace service for the year, that’s a great place to start. We also have a couple additional tips that can help keep your expenses as low as possible.
Schedule an Energy Audit
If you get a hold of your local utility provider, they will come do an energy audit of your home. These services are typically provided free-of-charge and account for everything that is present on your monthly bill, from your heating and cooling system to your kitchen and laundry appliances. Most utility companies also have rebates for insulation and other items that can boost your home’s efficiency.
Smartly Program Your Programmable Thermostat
Thermostats have evolved quite a bit, and the technology behind them only continues to evolve. For example, the iComfort S30 is able to utilize the GPS In your smartphone to determine when you’re leaving and makes the proper adjustment to help you save money and boost efficiency while you’re away. When you return home, everything goes back to normal and you don’t have to worry about a thing. It’s also able to adapt to your routine, so when baseball and football seasons kick off, your thermostat can make the right adjustment.
The Department of Energy says that a well programmed thermostat could
lower your heating costs by up to 35% and your cooling costs by up to 25%. Set your thermostat as low as you can, while ensuring you’re comfortable in the winter and as high as comfortable in the summer. There are a number of different models to choose from so pick the one that best fits your schedule and needs.
If your schedule changes a lot, a 7-day model is probably your best choice. They provide you the flexibility to set different programs for each day. These typically have four possible temperature periods per day.
There are also 5+2 and 5-1-1 models. These models are ideal if you have the same schedule on weekdays and a separate one for weekends.
Selecting and Maintaining Your System
If you think you’re close to the point where your system should be replaced, it’s a good idea to research all of your options so you can make an informed decision when the time necessitates. Look at the SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) rating of air conditioners and the AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) of the furnaces. The higher the ratings, the higher the savings. As always, our furnace and A/C professionals will help you make a well-informed decision that suits you and your needs.
If you’re not there yet, a simple furnace service and routine maintenance can keep your system operating smoothly and efficiently. If you haven’t arranged your furnace service for the year or are having any sort of questions about your system or choices, give us a call at 201-268-5663.