Whether you want energy efficiency tips on building a new home or conserving energy or reconfiguring an existing home, we have some excellent up to date resources for you! To learn more about how your household uses energy, how to conserve, and how to even build or renovate your home to be more energy efficient, visit our Energy Evaluations page to learn more. Particularly our Building the Home of Your Dreams and Your Unique Energy Needs resources guides.
For every day ways to conserve energy, view our 101 Easy Ways to Save Energy & Money resource:
Winter Tips to Avoid High Bills
Summer Time Myth vs. Facts
Myth: When I’m not home, keeping my air conditioner at a lower temperature throughout the day means it doesn’t have to run harder to cool my home when I return.
Fact: To save energy, set your thermostat to a higher temperature during the day, and lower it when you return home.
Myth: Closing vents on my central air conditioning system will boost efficiency.
Fact: Closing vents can cause the compressor to cycle too frequently and the heat pump to overload. You’ll also use more energy.
Myth: Ceiling fans don’t help much when it is hot out.
Fact: If you use air conditioning, a ceiling fan will allow you to raise the thermostat setting about 4°F with no reduction in comfort. Turn off ceiling fans when you leave the room. Remember that fans cool people, not rooms, by creating a wind chill effect.
Myth: Bigger is always better when it comes to cooling equipment.
Fact: Too often, cooling equipment isn’t sized properly and leads to higher electric bills. A unit that’s too large for your home will not cool evenly and might produce higher humidity indoors.
Myth: Cranking the thermostat lower will make the house cool faster.
Fact: Some cooling systems have variable speed air handlers and compressors, which can adjust their output to match demand. But once you change the thermostat by a couple of degrees or more, your unit will run at full capacity. Cranking the thermostat down to 60 when you really want 72 degrees will just make it overshoot your desired temperature, wasting energy and money.
