Embracing energy-saving tips to reduce your home’s energy consumption will save you money every month on your utility bills and give you the satisfaction of knowing that you’re helping the environment. By lowering the amount of natural gas and electricity that your house uses, you’re reducing the carbon emissions associated with burning fossil fuels, whether in your home furnace or at the coal-fired power plant that supplies your electricity. Higher energy efficiency also means that you’re helping to make our domestic supplies of natural gas, crude oil and coal last longer, so we will be less dependent on foreign energy supplies in the future.

Here are a few energy-saving tips that will not only save money, but will also reduce your family’s impact on the environment:

• Have your furnace inspected and tuned up. Your heating contractor can inspect your furnace to be sure it’s running cleanly and efficiently. During the inspection, your technician will clean burners, lubricate motors and replace air filters as needed, as well as let you know if there are any problems with your system that need to be fixed.
• Adjust your thermostat. Install a programmable thermostat or manually change your heat settings based on the time of day and the occupancy of your home. If everyone is away during the day, you can turn the thermostat down several degrees to save energy. Night-time sleeping hours are also a good time to lower the thermostat.
• Check your hot water setting for energy savings and safety. Your hot water temperature doesn’t need to be higher than 120 degrees for normal household use. Setting the temperature higher means more energy losses from the storage tank when the water isn’t being used.
• Upgrade your insulation. Check your insulation, especially in the attic, to be sure it’s adequate for our climate. Adding insulation is one of the most cost-effective and environmentally responsible ways you can improve your home’s efficiency.

Call us at Bill Joplin’s Air Conditioning & Heating for more energy-saving tips you can use this winter. We serve homeowners throughout the McKinney, Frisco and Allen areas.