Surefire Energy Savers: If You Don't Do Anything Else...

A common misconception among homeowners is that projects that are surefire energy savers will cost a lot of money. The truth is that with just a few energy-saving steps, you can take your utility bills from dismal to manageable, without requiring a lot of time or money on your part.

Here are a few must-have, surefire energy savers that homeowners in northern Virginia will benefit from:

• Get a tuneup: Having an air conditioner that's in peak condition will go a long way toward keeping your energy bills low. If this is a priority for you, be sure to schedule regular preventive maintenance appointments for your air conditioner every spring, before the cooling season begins. And to keep energy bills low during the winter, schedule a fall tuneup for your furnace.
• Change your air filter: Your HVAC equipment is designed to work efficiently -- as long as its filter is clean. So it's important that you check the state of the filter regularly. During seasons of high use, when your air conditioner -- or furnace -- are working around the clock, check the filter once a month, and change it when it looks dirty or dingy. In this way, you'll keep dirt and pollutants out of your system, helping it to stay clean.
• Use the right thermostat: A programmable thermostat is one of the best surefire energy savers that homeowners should implement. With the ability to develop a cooling schedule at your fingertips, you can program a daily setting for your air conditioner that matches when and how long you're home. In that way, the programmable thermostat setting will shut down the A/C, or at least decrease how often it runs, when you're not at home, helping you save more energy.
• Limit heat gain: Heat gain through window exposure is one of the best ways to negate the other surefire energy savers that you implement. You see, windows that receive sun exposure from the south and west, in particular, will raise the temperature inside of your home, and cause your air conditioner to run longer cycles, thereby consuming more energy.

If you don't do anything else this year to help you save more energy, implement these surefire energy savers. We guarantee that you won't regret it. For more expert advice on ways to save energy or to increase your home's overall energy efficiency, contact Jones-Rogers Inc. today. Serving homeowners in northern Virginia since 1970.