We all want to be more eco friendly. But why do we usually have to pay extra for it?
Want an electric car? You’ll not find one for as low a cost as a similarly-sized gasoline-powered car. Want to make your home more eco-friendly? Get ready for some costly insulation and window installations.
But there is one way to be more environmentally friendly and actually save money in energy costs. A more eco-friendly HVAC system not only offers energy savings, but it can lower other costs too.
A more energy-efficient heating and air conditioning unit doesn’t have to work as hard to cool and heat your home. In addition to lower energy consumption, your HVAC system will last longer, which means lower maintenance, repair and replacement costs too.
How to Have a More Eco-Friendly HVAC System
The following tips will not only make your home ‘greener’ by reducing how much heating and cooling it needs but will deliver all the other cost savings too.
- A Programmable Thermostat – Yes, this one involves an added cost. But the payback is worth it. If you were able to adjust your thermostat at all the right times, you could lower your average interior temperatures in the winter and increase your average home temperatures in summer, both without sacrificing any home comfort.
Except, you’d have to be standing beside your thermostat at all those right times.
A programmable thermostat frees you up to go about your daily tasks while knowing that your HVAC system is programmed to turn on and off at the optimal times. And it works for your heating system and cooling system, for gas furnaces, radiant heating or electric heat. - Check Your Air Ducts – Leaks in your air duct system can greatly reduce the efficiency of your heating and cooling system without you even knowing it. With your system running, check as many ducts as you can for leaks and seal them. Also, check the outflow of air in each room to make sure there is even heating and cooling throughout your home.
- Replace Air Filters and Clean Coils – Any air that heats or cools your home must pass through your HVAC systems air filter first. If it is clogged, your system will work harder to draw the air through the filter – and the air that does make it through may not be as clean as when the filter is new.
With your air conditioning unit located outside, it gets bombarded by dirt, debris, grass, leaves, twigs and who knows what else. Regularly cleaning the coils of your system will improve its efficiency.
To learn more about why you should always have a clean air filter, check out our article “The Importance of Changing Your Home’s HVAC Air Filter”.
