Time to clear the air—in your home

Time to clear the air—in your home

Sep 9, 2021 | Energy Efficiency

Your home’s indoor air quality is the quality of the air within and around your home in relation to you and your family’s health and comfort. By understanding and improving your home’s air quality, you can improve not only your health and quality of life but also save on your energy bill.

The importance of indoor air quality for your family.

Indoor air pollution can come from many different sources, including excess moisture, central heating, and cooling systems and humidification devices, cleaning materials, and outside sources. If your home has air pollution, it can cause headaches, dizziness, fatigue, and irritation of the eyes, throat, or nose. If these symptoms occur, you may want to explore ways to improve indoor air quality in your home.

Improving indoor air quality.

Using a portable air cleaner or upgrading the air filter in your HVAC system can help improve indoor air quality. Air purifiers or air sanitizers are designed to filter the air in a single area. Your central furnace or HVAC filters are designed to filter the air throughout a home. Both are good for reducing air pollution; however, they can’t remove all pollutants. Dehumidifiers can also help improve indoor air quality by keeping humidity levels at a healthy level.

One way to freshen up your home’s air quality is to check on the status of these ventilation systems and appliances. Proper maintenance and replacement, when necessary, can help control humidity while reducing dust and particles that aggravate asthma and allergies. Doing so can also help you save on your energy bill too: A dirty HVAC filter slows down air flow and makes your system work harder—wasting energy. A clean filter prevents buildup in the system and can lead to expensive maintenance or early system failure. Upgrading from an older HVAC system to a new, ENERGY STAR® system like a ductless mini-split uses 60% less energy than standard resistance-based heating systems and cuts cooling costs by 30%.

We offer rebates to help you save when you’re ready to upgrade: Get up to $25 off ENERGY STAR certified dehumidifiers, up to $450 off ENERGY STAR certified air-source heat pumps, and a rebate of $400 per outdoor unit for ENERGY STAR certified ductless mini-splits.

Keep outside air out with proper sealing.

Good ventilation is important to indoor air quality and control over when and how much air is circulated between the inside and outside of your home. Identifying and sealing areas where the air is leaking in and out of your home is the first step to gaining that control. Our in-home audit includes a blower door test, which identifies the air leakage in your home. We also provide up to $200 in rebates for air sealing. The biggest savings come over time—sealing air leaks can help you save 10-20% on your energy bill.

We hope you now have the tools and knowledge to breathe easier and save money on your home’s energy costs.

A little TLC for your heating system pays back in energy savings

A little TLC for your heating system pays back in energy savings

Jan 27, 2021 | Energy Efficiency

This winter, you can keep cozy inside – and enjoy smart energy savings – by making sure your heating system is running at maximum efficiency. Here are a few simple steps you can take:

  • Change your heating system’s air filter. A dirty air filter reduces your home’s air quality and the airflow through your HVAC system. Changing or cleaning the filter once a month will not only give you fresher air and prolong the life of your HVAC system, but it will save you money.
  • Have your heating system inspected at least once a year. HVAC technicians can keep your system operating properly and efficiently. Annual inspections help you save energy, help your heating system live a longer life and prevent emergency problems from developing in the dead of winter. If your system needs replaced, be sure to have it properly installed. According to ENERGY STAR®, improper installation can reduce the efficiency of your system by up to 30%, costing you more on your utility bills.
  • Use the “auto” setting on your thermostat. This will make sure your HVAC system only turns on when your indoor temperature drops below a certain temperature. Having the fan push air through your home all day and night wastes energy and adds to the wear and tear on your system.
  • Upgrade your home’s insulation. In a well-insulated home, less heat escapes in the winter and less cool air escapes in the summer. That means you stay comfortable and reduce the amount of energy you use. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that homeowners can save an average of 15% on heating and cooling costs by adding insulation and sealing cracks and openings.