Many may not know that the month of October is Energy Awareness Month. The goal is to promote the importance of energy efficiency and to provide information to the public on smarter energy practices – so your home can be more efficient AND more comfortable.
Why is it Important to be More Energy Efficient?
The benefits range from helping the environment to helping you save on your energy bills to even making your living space healthier for your family. Below are some key reasons why you should consider energy efficiency in your home a priority.
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Environment Protection
Today in the US, we produce electricity and energy through carbon concentrated power plants like coal or natural gas. This process generates about a third of US energy-related carbon dioxide emissions, which is harming the environment. By becoming more energy efficient in your home, you can reduce the demand for energy that comes from these plants to then benefit the environment by decreasing gas emissions.
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Helps You Save Money
As a homeowner, you may be thinking how does energy efficiency benefit me and my home? Well, the answer is simple: energy-efficient upgrades can save you money. Not to mention, they will make your home more comfortable in the process!
Here in Central New York, utilities are a large portion of your monthly expenses and with the help of energy-efficient technologies, you could be saving between 5 to 30 percent on your energy bills. The way you save is a result of reducing the demand for energy in your home by either installing more efficient products that will consume less energy or preventing energy loss through improving insulation.
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Improves Health and Well Being
Homeowners throughout the Mohawk Valley want to feel safe and healthy inside their homes, but understandably don’t always recognize that their homes could be leading to health issues. By improving the way you use energy, you can enhance your health and make your home more comfortable. Making energy efficiency a priority, your home will be warmer in the winter, cooler in the summer, and become properly ventilated – which helps lower the risk of illnesses by reducing the buildup of pollutants and mold growth in your home. Through improvements in insulation, ventilation, filters, and other home comfort technologies, these will create conditions that support your overall physical health – particularly when it comes to respiratory issues.
What are the Small Ways to Help Improve My Energy Efficiency?
Simple behavior changes will effectively lead you to save money and energy in your home. Below are just a few tips to help you adjust unnecessary energy-wasting behaviors to increase your home’s efficiency.
- Regulate your temperature with a programmable thermostProgrammable thermostats automatically adjust heating and cooling during the times when you are asleep or away – saving you energy.
- Replace Light BulbsSwap out conventional light bulbs (such as incandescent, halogen, fluorescent) with LEDs, LED fixtures, smart light bulbs. Energy-efficient lighting uses less energy and lasts longer.
- Change to an Advanced Power StripCompared to a conventional power strip, an advanced power strip will automatically shut off by itself at an inactive time to help save when devices that hold unused energy are plugged into the strip.
- Check your HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) filters!During heavy use months (such as the summer and winter), you should be checking them every month. Filters should be replaced at least every three months to keep your equipment running at max efficiency. A dirty filter slows down air flow and makes your system work harder to keep you comfortable.
Now, with help from New York State and our team at Fred F. Collis & Sons, you may be eligible to receive many of these energy efficiency upgrades – like programmable thermostats and LED Light Bulbs – completely free! In fact, you may even be eligible to receive free insulation and air sealing if you income qualify.
