What Can I Do to Lower My Energy Bills in Lincoln?
If you’re looking to save money, a great place to begin 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 need a large investment of money or time. If you haven’t scheduled your furnace service for the year, that’s a great place to start. We also have some additional tips that can help keep your costs as low as possible.
Schedule an Energy Audit
If you contact your local utility provider, they will come do an energy audit of your home. These services are usually provided free-of-charge and assess everything that is showing up on your monthly bill, from your heating and cooling system to your kitchen and laundry appliances. Most utility companies also can provide rebates for insulation and other things that can increase your home’s efficiency.
Smartly Program Your Programmable Thermostat
Thermostats have been improved a lot, and the technology behind them only continues to expand. For example, the iComfort S30 is able to employ the GPS In your smartphone to figure out when you’re leaving and makes the proper adjustment to help you save money and boost efficiency while you’re gone. When you return home, everything returns to normal and you don’t have to worry about a thing. It’s also able to adjust to your routine, so when baseball and football seasons start again, your thermostat can make the proper 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 remaining comfortable in the winter and as high as comfortable in the summer. There are a few different models to decide from so pick the one that best fits your schedule and needs.
If your schedule changes quite a bit, a 7-day model is more than likely your best bet. They provide you the flexibility to set different programs for each day. These usually have four possible temperature phases every day.
There are also 5+2 and 5-1-1 models. These models are best 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 will need to be replaced, it’s a good idea to view all of your options so you can make an informed decision when the time arrives. 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 better the savings. As always, our furnace and A/C experts will help you make a well-informed decision that suits you and your needs.
If you’re not at that point, a simple furnace service and routine maintenance can keep your system running smoothly and efficiently. If you haven’t set up your furnace service for the year or are having any sort of questions about your system or choices, give us a call at 402-438-7992.