2020 has been a crazy year for sure, and people have been impacted in ways we couldn’t have anticipated back in February. One of the consequences of having everyone at home more often is that energy bills are soaring. While the home may have been empty most days prior to the outbreak, now the entire family is often home all day, using computers and appliances all day long. This has had a major impact on their utility bills, at a time when many people could use a financial break. One way to get a handle on where you are expending the most energy, as well as to come up with strategies to save money and energy, is a home energy audit.
A professional home energy audit may be the most precise way for you to determine the reality of your family’s energy consumption. However, as a Sarasota homeowner you can also do a walkthrough of your home and spot many of the problems for yourself.
When performing a home energy audit, keep a list of areas you have checked out and issues you found. Once you are done with the entire home, the list will help you to prioritize any needed energy efficiency projects or upgrades.
Did You Know: There is constant innovation in the home energy sector, so even if your home is relatively new, there may be many ways you can further improve it to be more energy efficient.
Tips for a Home Energy Audit
Check for Air Leaks and Drafts: While our friends around the country are looking to keep heat in and cold drafts out, here in Sarasota typically have the opposite problem. In order to get the most efficiency from our A/C unit, we need to First, make a list of obvious air leaks (drafts). The potential energy savings from reducing drafts in a home may range from 10% to 20% per year.
Check Insulation
Cool air loss through the ceiling and walls in your home could be very large if the insulation levels are not adequate. Given how much we have to run our A/C throughout most of the year, keeping your insulation up to more than minimum levels. If the attic hatch is located above a conditioned space, check to see if it is at least as heavily insulated as the attic, is weather stripped, and closes tightly. Make sure any gaps are sealed, or else your A/C will be working far harder than it needs too to keep the space below at your desired temperature. Florida attics are notoriously hot, so a thick layer of insulation can help to keep hot air out of your air conditioned home.
Inspect A/C Unit Regularly
Be sure to check your A/C equipment at least once a year. In the Sarasota area, it is best to have a maintenance service contract on your unit. An A/C unit is high in energy consumption, and if it is struggling to keep your home cool it sucks up even more electricity. In fact, if your unit is more than 10 years old, you may wish to consider a new unit. The most recent models are far more energy efficient and can save you quite a bit on your electric bill.
Lighting, Appliances and Electronics
Your light fixtures account for about 10% of your electric bill, so replacing. Also consider controls such as sensors, dimmers, or timers to minimize lighting usage. Examine the appliances and electronics in your home and estimate their energy use, then get more proactive in reducing usage whenever possible.
If you want help in determining what your energy usage is, as well as professional recommendations on how lower your electric bill – call the master electricians at Promise Electric.
