Are your energy bills leaving you with little money in your pocket? According to Energy Star, around half of all of the energy used in today's homes goes to heating and cooling them. While changing out your light bulbs for LED or CFL options and turning off light switches are great ways to save energy, if you are serious about having an energy-efficient home, you need to focus on comfort system efficiency. At NexGen Air, we want to help our customers in Los Angeles, Anaheim and Palm Desert save money by reducing their energy use and costs. Here are some tips from our experts to help you start saving.
How much heat energy is lost through the attic? If your insulation is insufficient, the answer is more than you might think. Adding a layer of insulation will make your home much more efficient because it will help keep your cooled and heated air inside where it belongs. NexGen Air can help you evaluate your insulation to see if it's sufficient for your home's needs.
A smart thermostat or WiFi thermostat gives you greater control over your HVAC system, and greater control means better efficiency. With a smart thermostat that you can control from your phone, you can adjust the temperature in your home from anywhere. While a programmable thermostat allows this as well, with a WiFi thermostat you can make adjustments even when your schedule changes while you’re out. As long as you have access to the Internet, you can adjust your home comfort settings to be as efficient as possible.
Curtains can do more than just decorate your space. Energy-efficient window treatments can help keep heated or cooled air inside your home. They add another insulating barrier between your home and the outside, so you can enjoy less lost energy.
Proper HVAC maintenance will help your furnace and air conditioner run at an optimal level. This means greater efficiency no matter the season. At NexGen Air, we recommend having a maintenance check at the start of both the cooling and the heating seasons.
On the west side of your home, plant shrubs or a tree that can block the sun from pouring in. This is important, because this is the side of the house where the most intense heat will come during the hottest part of the day in the summer. If you choose a tree or bush that loses its leaves, you can enjoy the added warmth in the winter when the plants are bare, and the added shade in the summer when the sun is harsh.