Easy Ways To Save On Your Heating And Cooling

If you're looking to save money on your usual monthly expenses, one of the first places you should look should be your heating and cooling. While you might not see the costs of this utility separated out all the time on your energy bills, you'd be surprised to learn just how much this necessary expense is taking out of your normal budget. According to the Department of Energy, 45% of the average home energy bill goes toward heating, and that's not accounting for winter and summer increases due to changing weather.

Heating and cooling your home can account for a large percentage of your regular energy spending, but don't worry, cutting down on this bill doesn't have to mean an uncomfortably hot or cold home. Here are a few useful tips and tricks to beat your heating bill without having to deal with uncomfortable temperatures.

Update Your Appliances

If it's been a few years since you've upgraded your major home appliances, it's entirely possible your heating and cooling systems could be outdated and costing you extra money. Spending money on a new appliance might seem counter-intuitive to saving money, but think again; a new appliance can actually reduce your overall energy spending and eventually end up paying for itself.

Newer heating and cooling systems tend to use energy more efficiently, helping you save on the energy bill once you've replaced your old appliance. In some cases, newer models of air conditioners use about 50% less energy than they did in 1990. Swapping out your air conditioning unit, therefore, has the potential to save you half of what you're currently spending on your cooling costs, making the initial investment well worth it.

Check Your Construction

Believe it or not, the way your house was originally built could be having a huge impact on how much you're spending on your heating and cooling bill, even if you weren't the one responsible for how your home was constructed. Certain types of construction, like modular construction, can reduce energy consumption during the building process by around 67%, as well as reducing energy costs later on for occupants. Look into what type of construction your home initially used to see what fixes specific to your home you can make use of.

Additionally, a few simple home repairs can help you reduce heating and cooling costs significantly, even if there's a little bit of initial investment involved. Sealing leaks around your home that could be causing money-draining drafts can help you cut down on costs for heating and cooling. If you're already planning on doing some home renovations sometime soon, make sure your new materials are conducive to energy savings. Look at the materials your windows use in particular, as certain materials retain heat better than others. Energy Star windows are typically made with six different framing materials: fiberglass, vinyl, aluminum, wood, composite, and combination.

Small Switches For Savings

Don't underestimate the impact smaller switches on a day-to-day basis can have on your heating expenses as well. Just like how turning the lights off when leaving a room can help you save on your electricity, turning down the thermostat when you're not home can help you save on heating expenses. If possible, use a programmable or smart thermostat for your home; this way you can reduce how much you spend on heating without having to actively change the thermostat as frequently.

Additionally, don't be afraid to turn the thermostat down just a little bit. You likely won't notice a degree or two difference, and that's sometimes all it can take to reduce your bills. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that for every eight hours you lower the thermostat by just one degree, you'll end up saving 1% on your energy bill.

Saving on your heating and cooling can be as small or as large a task as you like, with options available from renovation to even just changing tiny daily habits. How do you plan to save on your heating and cooling bill in the future? Will you use these tips?