Our long Western Slope winters can be a real drag on energy bills. Odds are, you put your heating system to full use during this time period. However, your energy costs do not have to be as high as they are. With just a little bit of effort, you can improve the energy efficiency of your home, which will result in lower heating costs. Increase your home’s energy efficiency by following these tips:
- Air sealing – Losing your warm air through air leaks can lead to higher energy costs. It means that your heating system has to work longer and harder than it should in order to replace the lost heat. Use caulking and weatherstripping to seal any air leaks.
- Ducts – Leaks in ducts force your heating equipment to work harder to warm you house. Have your ductwork inspected for any holes or cracks and make sure that all the joints between duct sections are secure.
- Windows – Keep your window blinds or curtains open on the sunny side of your house during winter days. This will allow as much solar heat to enter your home as possible. Once the sun sets, you’ll want to close your blinds and curtains in order to keep the heat trapped inside your home.
- Insulation – Insulate your floors to keep them warm during the winter, insulate your walls to keep cold air out, and insulate your attic in order to keep the air that’s warming your home from escaping from your living spaces into an area that doesn’t need heating.
- Appliances – Upgrade your HVAC equipment to more energy-efficient models, such as models that have earned the Energy Star label, may be expensive at first, but it will save a significant amount of money on your energy bills.
- Maintenance – Have regular maintenance performed on your HVAC system in order to ensure that it works as efficiently as possible for as long as possible.
For more information on improving the energy efficiency in your western Colorado home, please contact us at Climate Control Company.Our goal is to help educate our customers in Aspen, Vail and the surrounding Western slope communities in Colorado about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about energy efficiency and other HVAC topics, please visit our website.
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