Learning to make your home more energy efficient not only reduces your monthly utility bills but lowers your impact on the surrounding environment. Regularly meeting with plumbers, electricians, and air conditioning and heating contractors can provide you with an accurate view of where and how energy is being consumed. Here are a few common ways these professionals suggest homeowners take to begin improving their home’s performance.

How to Improve Your Home’s Energy Efficiency

1. Install a Programmable Thermostat

In the majority of homes, the heating and cooling units comprise nearly half of all energy consumption. You can reduce this by installing a programmable thermostat. It will help you save money by automatically lowering or raising the temperature while the house is empty or when everyone is in bed. For the best results, air conditioning and heating contractors suggest programming the thermostat to be seven degrees to 10 degrees higher or lower during these periods. 

2. Swap to a Tankless Water Heater

Although regular water heater repair and maintenance will help traditional tanks from becoming energy hogs, they are still no match for tankless models. These units don’t rely on a tank and only heat water when the tap is activated, and as a result, there is no standby energy loss. In households that use 41 gallons of water or less, they are 24 percent to 34 percent more efficient than conventional models in households. For greater savings up to 50 percent, install an instantaneous unit at each hot water outlet.

3. Upgrade Incandescent Lighting

Incandescent lightbulbs are inexpensive to purchase and provide instant lighting. Unfortunately, they are also incredibly energy inefficient and don’t tend to last very long. CFL and LED bulbs will help to reduce your energy bills. They also last 10 to 25 times longer, so you won’t have to replace them very frequently. 

If you are searching for ways to cut down on your home’s energy usage, contact the air conditioning and heating contractors at Dockery’s Electrical, Plumbing, Heating & Air. Since 1979, they have provided electrical, plumbing, and heating and cooling repair, maintenance, and installation services to Cornelia and Northeast Georgia. They’ll also perform a home energy audit to help you determine where upgrades are needed and provide financing for replacement equipment. Visit their website or call these air conditioning and heating contractors today at (706) 778-5304 to request service.