The Pitfalls of Energy Usage
March 1, 2019
Whether you’re renting an apartment or house or you own said apartment or house, you would be surprised at the multitude of ways you can shave your energy usage bill down. Homeowners and renters alike feel the slow burn as monthly bills are tallied and the fear of wasting resources dawn on them.
How much energy might be wasted? The U.S. Department of Energy has that answer covered. The U.S. Department of Energy has stated 25% to 40% of your home’s heating and cooling is wasted. Part of the wasted energy is due to contaminant build up in any, or all, HVAC systems, requiring them to work even harder. HVAC is an acronym for Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning. If this is a problem that you would like to avoid, it is highly recommended you change the air filters for HVAC systems at least every three months.
Insulation is another piece of the energy wasting puzzle an insulation contractor can help you fix. Poorly installed insulation in homes with attics can rise as high as 25% of your house’s heat loss. However, when insulation is properly installed by insulation contractors, you can expect to see a reduction in your energy bill by more than 40%. It certainly saves to have quality insulation installed by quality insulation contractors.
The energy wasted in your home even extends to your windows. Your residential heating and cooling energy usage bill will take a hit when you realize 20% to 30% of wasted energy comes in the form of heat gain and heat loss through your windows.
All of this wasted energy coalesces into an annual utility usage making up as much as 54% of your bills. Programmable thermostats, in conjunction with your HVAC systems, can help reduce your annual energy costs, on average, by $180.
It pays to research the objectively best ways to heat and cool your home. For example, Portland and Central Oregon have cash incentives and financing anywhere between $250 to $1850 by choosing to opt for a heat pump in your home. If you’re looking to stay cool, choosing an air conditioner might be enough or a ceiling fan if you want something less imposing. For heating, avoid installing a furnace that’s too big for your home. Homeowners tend to experience short-cycling, a condition that puts the furnace in a cycle of on and off. Your home is then over-heated then cooled below your set temperature.