Imagine reducing your energy consumption, saving money on household utility costs, and taking a little pressure off your HVAC equipment, all without sacrificing an ounce of comfort and convenience. Sounds too good to be true, right? Actually, it’s easier than you think. Simply adopting a handful of smart, energy-efficient practices can help you realize substantial savings without forgoing the home comfort you depend on. Here are 8 tips to keeping your energy expenses down.

 1. Know your energy usage. One of the easiest ways to get a handle on your energy usage by having a  home energy audit performed. This is a great way to determine how much energy your household uses, identify any problem areas, and plan for necessary energy-saving upgrades and improvements.

 2. Put your windows to good use. During cold, winter months, keep shades, blinds, and curtains open during the day to allow sunlight to flood your home with warmth. Once sunset rolls around, close all window coverings to trap warmth and minimize heat loss. If you have older, drafty windows, install window insulation to keep cold air out.

 3. Find and seal gaps. Inspect windows and exterior doors for cracks and gaps and caulk or seal them to cut down on heating and cooling costs. And don’t forget to check around the chimney, in areas where plumbing, ductwork, and electrical wiring come through exterior walls, and around kitchen, bathroom, and laundry room vents.

 4. Program the thermostat. If you don’t yet have a programmable thermostat, there’s no time like the present. A programmable thermostat allows you to raise or lower the temperature automatically according to your presents and daily schedule. When no one is home, lower the thermostat in the winter and raise it in the summer so you’re not paying to heat or cool an empty house.

 5. Dress in layers. Layering your clothes helps keep you warm on the coldest of days, allowing you to turn down the thermostat a few degrees. Come summer, dress in loose clothing made of natural, breathable fibers.

 6. Reverse ceiling fan direction. Your ceiling fan is not a one-trick pony. Sure, it cools you down on a hot day, but during the winter months, running your ceiling fan in reverse (or clockwise) pushes warm trapped air down to where you need it most.

 7. Install motion sensor lights. Replace manual light switches with motion sensor versions to automatically turn lights off a short while after someone leaves the room. And don’t forget to swap out energy-hogging incandescent bulbs with efficient and long-lasting LED bulbs.

 8. Have your HVAC systems serviced annually. Help keep your heating and cooling systems operating at safely and at peak efficiency by scheduling annual routine maintenance. During preventive maintenance, a qualified HVAC technician can also identify problem areas before they turn into costly emergency. Plus you’ll help extend equipment life. How’s that for a win-win?

And that’s where we come in – C&D Cooling & Heating. One of our expert technicians will give your HVAC systems a thorough going-over to help ensure maximum performance and energy efficiency. If it’s been a year or more since your HVAC system was last serviced, call us today to schedule service and check one energy-saving step off your to-do list.