As another heating season gets closer and closer, keep in mind that there are both big ways and small ways to reduce energy usage, improve energy efficiency and cut your heating bills. Some homeowners look for lots of little ways to save here and there. Others look for the “one big thing” to dramatically reduce their fuel usage.
With that in mind, here is a “by-the-numbers” look at what you could expect to save on annual heating costs when you take steps to improve your home’s energy efficiency levels.
Warm air rises, so if you have ceiling fans, especially in a part of your home that has high ceilings, run your fans in reverse to push the warm air down. This will keep your rooms more comfortable and will reduce your energy usage a bit too.
Programmable thermostats allow you to set your temperatures so that you aren’t wasting energy when you aren’t home or are asleep. Today’s smart thermostats can be controlled remotely, giving you greater control over your energy usage. This relatively inexpensive investment can potentially cut your energy usage by at least 5%—sometimes even more!
The burner on your oilheating system is a key part of your equipment and subsequently has a significant impact on a home’s energy efficiency. If your burner is more than 20 years old, you could potentially replace your burner and improve energy efficiency by an average of 10%.
The most impactful action you can take is to replace your system with a new, higher efficiency oil furnace or oil boiler. While this will cost you the most, it will also save you the most. And depending on the age of your current system, you may be able to improve efficiency and cut your bills by 25% or more.
Fall will be here before we know it! For additional information and to learn more about improving efficiency and saving money on heat, go here.