With everyone spending a lot more time at home as of late, it means that more of us are going to be depending on our homes to be the optimal, energy efficient havens we need them to be. This can be a little easier said than done though, with the use of home systems going up throughout the day.
We know that those of us living in Portland are always looking to find ways to boost our home energy efficiency and, while our day to day patterns might be shifting, that goal doesn’t have to change. In en effort to help you with your goal of being energy efficient, we’ve compiled a small list of ways to boost your household energy efficiency without having to reduce your home comfort.
6 Ways to Boost Your Home Energy Efficiency
Now, more than ever, it is important to find ways to be as energy efficient as possible when you are home. Here are some tips you can use to do just that:
- Make sure doors and windows are sealed. Windows and doors that leak air aren’t just reducing your comfort, they are also driving down energy efficiency. Make sure that your doors and windows are well-sealed to keep conditioned air inside the house where it belongs.
- Use lights only when absolutely necessary. When you enter a room, see if there are any natural sources of light to use before you flip that switch. Also when you leave the room, make sure to turn all the lights off, even if you are going to come back in a few minutes.
- Make sure to completely shut technology off at night. Many people put their computers to sleep at the end of the day. Not only is shutting down your technology at the end of the day better for your energy efficiency, it is also better for your tech too!
- Schedule a tune-up for your heating system. How is your heater doing? Has it had a tune-up in the last year? If not, you should consider scheduling a heating maintenance appointment to make sure the system is operating with the best possible energy efficiency it can. A poorly maintained or struggling heater can suck up for more energy than you might think.
- Use any natural sources of heat available. Keep warm and reduce your energy use by making the most of the natural heat you have in your home. For example, letting in sunlight to help warm a room during the day, or letting the heat and humidity in your bathroom get into other rooms, are all tactics that will ease the job your heater has to do.
- Consider a smart thermostat. Smart thermostats help your system run more efficiently than they would otherwise and can also track your energy use and provide detailed reports that will help you find even more ways to curb your energy consumption.
When you need a team on hand that will help you stay comfortable while keeping energy efficiency in mind, contact The Clean Air Act.