Heat Wave Got You Down? Turn That Frown Upside Down With Summer Energy Savings
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Remember that one summer it was over 100 degrees for over a month, and I made up a word. I was so mad… what was it again?
I didn’t say it was a good word. But anyway, it’s only been a week and I’m already there. Partly because I really hate being hot, but partly because my last energy bill was HIGH, and it’s honestly been pretty mild this summer so far, so I’m frankly a little scared. Something needs to be done.
Luckily, there are things that can be done. And that’s what we’re going to get into today: identifying ways you might be losing energy efficiency around your house. It’s about to be August, y’all, and we need all the energy savings we can get.
Seal Your Windows
This is such a common way for homeowners to lose energy, whether it’s that your window seals are broken within the windows or the seals around the window frames need caulking. Having a home energy assessment will show you if your windows are leaking and what you can do about it.
Insulate Your Attic
This picture makes me laugh so hard. The thing is, the premise isn’t technically wrong — it’s just hilarious. This is a door to the attic where someone has installed radiant barriers. Radiant barriers are surfaces that reflect heat away rather than absorbing it. They can help reduce cooling costs. You would usually find them above an attic hatch or, even more commonly, along the roof of the attic.
Radiant barriers are a great way to help keep cooling costs down if you can afford it (it’s about $.30 to $2 a square foot, depending on the product). It’s important that you keep up with your attic insulation. In North Texas, the recommended minimum heat flow resistance is R-38, which is a unit measurement that translates to about 13-14 inches of insulation. Keep in mind that insulation degrades over time so you want to add to it or replace it if it gets low.
A home energy assessment will identify places where your attic is leaking, whether it be through gaps in the roof, poor insulation, or other issues.
Have Your AC Serviced
So this is crazy, but crazy stuff does happen. More common is that ductwork can get disconnected, blocked, or turned too sharply, causing air not to flow. Improperly sealed supply vents can also cause air to leak out through the gaps. Additionally, if filters don’t get cleaned forever it can cause problems down the lines.
Sometimes people neglect to get their HVAC systems serviced regularly. It can lead to all kinds of stuff going wrong. I don’t know if you knew, but HVAC systems are expensive. Servicing them makes them last longer. It’s simple math.
Having an energy assessment will tell you things like whether your vents are leaking, which vents have poor air flow, and other potential problems.
Energy Assessment Savings
Green Scene is currently offering 10% off energy assessments this month. You can save on the service and your energy bill. Turn those “hotangry” vibes into something positive and reduce your energy spending at home this summer!
