Are you tired of paying high energy bills in your Corpus Christi-area home? If so, the first step toward getting your bills under control is learning more about the household equipment and appliances that use the most energy and ways to curb their consumption.
HVAC Equipment
Heating and cooling accounts for close to half of the total energy usage in the average home, so ensuring that your HVAC system operates efficiently is vital to lowering your bills. You should have the equipment assessed to make sure it’s properly sized, keep it well maintained with annual professional tuneups, get the ductwork sealed and insulated and change the air filter regularly, too. When the time comes for replacement, opt for Energy Star-certified models with the highest efficiency rating that fits within your budget.
Water Heater
In a typical household, water heating represents up to 18 percent of total annual energy usage. You can trim this by using less hot water: run the dishwasher instead of hand washing, always use cold water when doing laundry, and take shorter showers. Additionally, adjust the water heater’s thermostat down to 120 degrees, and add an insulated jacket if it’s an older model.
Electronics and Miscellaneous Appliances
The plethora of electronic devices and small appliances in today’s homes account for 11 to 18 percent of yearly energy consumption. Such items keep burning energy when they’re not in use, but you can curtail this waste by unplugging them or putting them on power strips and shutting them down after every use.
Refrigerator
You may not realize that keeping food cold can represent up to nine percent of your home’s overall energy consumption. If you use an older model as a second fridge, you’re wasting a significant amount of energy, since units made prior to 2001 are much less efficient than new models. The easiest way to lower your related energy bills is to have only one refrigerator, and when it’s due for replacement, invest in an Energy Star-certified model.
To learn more effective ways to lower the energy bills in your Coastal Bend home, contact us at CCAC.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Corpus Christi, Texas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 361-678-2495.
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