Dallas homeowners know the struggle of beating the heat all while trying to minimize utility costs. Luckily, there are many easy ways to decrease your home’s energy usage without sacrificing comfort. The Dallas air conditioning experts at Sherrell Air Conditioning & Heating are here to offer you some of the most effective energy-saving tips that can help minimize your monthly energy bill as well as your home’s carbon footprint.
Ready to make the most out of your cooling system and reduce your home’s energy consumption? Reach out to us at (972) 216-1961 to schedule an appointment with us today!
Things You Can Do To Save Energy and Conserve Resources
From simple tweaks in daily habits to more significant home improvements, there are a variety of ways to save energy and save money at the same time. Below, we’ll dive into specific strategies and steps you can take to foster an eco-friendly home without compromising on your lifestyle.
Invest in Regular HVAC Maintenance
One of the cornerstones of an energy-efficient home is a well-maintained heating and cooling system. Preventative maintenance goes beyond merely ensuring your HVAC system is operational—it optimizes its performance, ensuring you get the maximum comfort for the least energy consumption. Regular check-ups can pinpoint and rectify minor issues before they become significant problems, leading to both energy and cost savings in the long run.
We at Sherrell Air are proud to offer our annual preventative HVAC maintenance plan, which allows you to ensure your system is fully operational and energy-efficient before the sweltering summer or frigid winter rolls around. When you join our Cool Club, you also experience exclusive discounts on parts and repairs, as well as priority service when it comes to maintenance calls. Additionally, by investing in the upkeep of your HVAC system, you not only extend its lifespan but also play a pivotal role in reducing your home’s overall energy footprint, saving you money on your energy bills, as well.
Ensure Your Home is Properly Insulated and Sealed
Proper insulation and sealing are paramount when it comes to creating an energy-efficient living space. A well-insulated home can reduce the need for constant HVAC repair, as it ensures that the heating or cooling systems are working efficiently and not overcompensating for heat loss. Insulating walls, attics, and floors prevents warm air from escaping during the winter and keeps cool air inside during the hotter months. Sealing gaps, cracks, and openings around windows and doors can also decrease your home’s heat loss and conserve energy.
Upgrade to Energy-Efficient Appliances
Taking a step towards sustainability often means updating older systems to their modern counterparts. When it comes time to buy and install a new air conditioner, opting for Energy Star-approved models can be a game-changer in your quest for energy savings. These models are designed to operate with maximum efficiency, translating to a noticeable reduction in your monthly energy bill. The team at Sherrell Air can help you decide on a unit that works best for your needs as well as reduces your energy consumption.
Another way you can save energy is by installing a heat pump water heater, which is an innovative device designed to transfer heat from the surrounding air to heat your home’s water. Instead of using large amounts of electricity or gas to produce heat, they simply move existing heat from the air to the water. As a result, homeowners can see a marked decrease in their energy consumption, leading to reduced energy bills and a smaller carbon footprint.
In addition to optimizing your heating and cooling systems, you can also further optimize your home’s energy use by installing energy-efficient appliances all over your home. This can include your washer and dryer, dishwasher, microwave, refrigerator, and more. By making these strategic upgrades, you not only embrace a greener lifestyle but also position yourself for significant long-term financial benefits.
Upgrade Your Thermostat
The thermostat is a crucial component in regulating the environment inside your home. Upgrading to a more advanced model, such as a programmable thermostat or smart thermostat, can substantially improve the efficiency of your heating and cooling equipment. With the advent of modern technology, these thermostats can adapt to your daily routines and adjust temperatures automatically, ensuring your home stays comfortable while you’re at home and conserves energy while you’re away.
Utilize Natural Light and Ventilation
Another good way to use less energy and save money is by not using your air conditioning unit when you don’t need to. Even if you have the most energy-efficient equipment available, running your AC when you don’t need to can significantly increase your home’s energy usage. On nice, cool days, open the windows and let the outside air circulate throughout your home, cooling it and your family for free.
In addition to using windows for ventilation, you can also use them to help illuminate your home, allowing you to leave the lights off during the day. Open your curtains or blinds and take advantage of any direct sunlight, using it to brighten up any dimly lit rooms in your home, all without using electricity.
Close Your Blinds / Curtains
An often-underestimated factor in a home’s internal temperature is the role of sunlight, which can lead to significant heat gain when it directly enters through windows. By simply closing your blinds or curtains on hot days, especially during the peak sunlight hours, you can significantly reduce this heat influx. This not only helps keep your living spaces cooler during the warmer months, but also plays a pivotal role in reducing the strain on your cooling system.
Think of blinds and curtains as your home’s first line of defense against unwanted solar heat—effective and straightforward. By closing them on hot, sunny days, homeowners can witness a noticeable difference in their electric bills. Combining curtains and blinds with energy-efficient windows can also help increase your home’s energy efficiency and decrease heat loss.
Consider LED Bulbs
In addition to the many other energy-efficient products you could install in your home, LED light bulbs can be incredibly beneficial to you and your home, saving energy and saving you money. Traditional incandescent light bulbs not only consume more electricity but also emit a considerable amount of heat, contributing to the overall heat gain within a home. Switching to LED bulbs can drastically reduce this internal heat output.
LEDs are highly efficient, using a fraction of the energy of their incandescent counterparts, which means they not only decrease heat production but also lead to significant savings on electric bills. Plus, with their longer lifespan, LED bulbs are both an environmentally friendly and cost-effective solution for homeowners looking to optimize their home’s energy consumption and maintain a more comfortable indoor temperature.
Use Ceiling Fans
Ceiling fans are an often-overlooked tool for enhancing a home’s energy efficiency. While they don’t necessarily cool the air, they circulate it, creating a draft that makes the room feel cooler. This can allow homeowners to set their thermostat a few degrees higher in the summer without sacrificing comfort, leading to a noticeable reduction in energy costs. In cooler months, reversing the direction of the ceiling fan can help distribute warm air more evenly throughout the room, minimizing the need for additional heating and saving you money year-round.
Wash Your Clothes in Cold Water
Laundry is a regular task for most households, but many might not realize the impact of their washing temperature choices on energy consumption. Washing clothes in cold water is the most energy-efficient way to tackle your laundry. It significantly reduces the energy used by your washing machine, as a large portion of the energy goes into heating the water for warm or hot washes.
By opting for a cold wash, homeowners can not only ensure that their clothes are cleaned effectively but also see a reduction in their monthly electricity bills by decreasing their water heating costs. Cold water washing can also be gentler on fabrics, ensuring your clothes last longer while you save on both energy and future wardrobe costs.
Turn Your Air Conditioner Up When You’re Away
Another good way to increase your home energy efficiency is by turning up your thermostat before you leave the house. Leaving your air conditioner running at the same temperature while you’re away as when you’re at home can be a significant energy drain. Turning your air conditioner up a few degrees when you’re not home ensures it doesn’t work unnecessarily hard to maintain cold air in an empty house. Decreasing constant air conditioning usage can also help extend the life of your system, saving you on air conditioning repair costs as well as heating and cooling costs.
Helping Dallas Homeowners Maximize Energy Efficiency for Maximum Savings
At Sherrell Air Conditioning & Heating, our commitment goes beyond ensuring your home is comfortably cool or warm. We’re passionate about guiding Dallas homeowners on the path to energy efficiency. We hope these energy-saving tips help you find new ways to decrease your electricity costs and increase your home’s energy efficiency.
Want to ensure your home is as comfortable and energy-efficient as possible? The Dallas air conditioning technicians at Sherrell Air are ready to help. Whether you’re looking for personalized advice, system upgrades, or maintenance services, our expert team is only a call away at (972) 216-1961. Prefer to reach out digitally? You can always contact us online for prompt assistance. Together, let’s make your home a haven of comfort and savings.
