What Can I Do to Lower My Energy Bills in Long Island?
If you’re wanting to save money, a great place to start is right inside your home. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, heating and cooling your home usually accounts for about 48% of your utility bill. Some of the best ways to start saving money don’t necessitate a big investment of money or time. If you haven’t arranged for your furnace service for the year, that’s a great place to start. We also have some additional tips that can help keep your bills as low as possible.
Schedule an Energy Audit
If you reach out to your local utility provider, they will come do an energy audit of your home. These services are typically provided free-of-charge and assess everything that is present on your utility bill, from your heating and cooling system to your kitchen and laundry appliances. Many utility companies also can provide rebates for insulation and other equipment that can increase your home’s efficiency.
Smartly Program Your Programmable Thermostat
Thermostats have evolved quite a bit, and the technology behind them only continues to expand. For example, the iComfort S30 is able to use the GPS In your smartphone to detect when you’re leaving and makes the proper change to help you save money and improve efficiency while you’re not home. When you return home, everything returns to normal and you don’t have to worry about making any changes. It’s also able to adjust to your routine, so when baseball and football seasons start again, your thermostat can make the correct adjustment.
The Department of Energy states that a well programmed thermostat could
decrease your heating costs by up to 35% and your cooling costs by up to 25%. Set your thermostat as low as you can, while still staying comfortable in the winter and as high as comfortable in the summer. There are several different models to select from so pick the one that best fits your schedule and needs.
If your schedule changes a lot, 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 stages per day.
There are also 5+2 and 5-1-1 models. These models are perfect if you keep the same schedule on weekdays and a separate one for weekends.
Selecting and Maintaining Your System
If you think you’re almost to the point where your system should be replaced, it’s a good idea to research all of your options so you can make an informed decision when the time arrives. View 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 pros 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 operating smoothly and efficiently. If you haven’t arranged your furnace service for the year or are having any sort of questions about your system or options, give us a call at 631-737-5566.