Spring and Summer Energy Saving Tips

With the arrival of spring, we can’t forget hot summer temperatures are not far away. Whether you’ve already turned on your AC or are waiting it out for a little bit longer, now is the time to start thinking about how to save money and energy on upcoming utility bills.

Energy Saving Tips

Fortunately, there are numerous ways to save on electric bills and make your house more environmentally friendly. This spring, consider implementing some of our top energy saving ideas and tips:

Install LED Lighting

Advancements in technology have changed the ways in which we light our homes and businesses. Light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs, compared to compact fluorescent lights (CFL), consume very low amounts of power. LEDs last 25 times longer and emit very little heat. In comparison, incandescent bulbs release 90% of their energy as heat, and CFLs release 80% of their energy as heat. Replacing all of the lights in your home with LED lighting can result in a 60-75% improvement in overall energy efficiency and last for years to come.

Turn On Your Ceiling Fans

Ceiling fans offer great energy savings throughout the warmer and colder seasons. Air conditioning systems require more electricity than anything else in your home. In fact, it can account for almost a quarter of all home energy consumption. Using a ceiling fan, on the other hand, costs roughly a penny per hour. Ceiling fans do not reduce the temperature of a room but rather cool you down through a wind-chill effect. Whenever possible, turn on your ceiling fans to keep the airflow going in your home. This also supports the work of your AC unit, better distributing the cool air rather than letting it sink low to the ground.

Upgrade Your Appliances

If your HVAC unit, water heater, plumbing pipes, washer & dryer, or electrical wiring are showing signs of age, it’s time to upgrade. Older systems are naturally less energy efficient, as they often rely on outdated practices and don’t use the latest energy saving technology. According to the Department of Energy, replacing an old water heater with a new tankless water heater can save you anywhere from 8-34% on your water bills while also increasing your energy efficiency by at least 9%. You’ll see similar benefits when swapping out an old HVAC unit for a new Energy-Star rated unit.

Seal Your Attic and Crawl Space

Air sealing your attic is one of the best ways to reduce energy costs in your home. When building a home, contractors often use the attic to conceal their wiring, piping, and ductwork. Many of them do not seal the holes they make when running these materials, leaving many places for hot and cool conditioned air to escape. Bradley Mechanical seals these areas with a two-part foam along with other problem areas like band boards, chimneys, wall plates, and joists.

Unsealed crawl spaces are another area in your house known for major air leaks. Sealing your crawl space not only saves money on your heating and cooling but it also makes your home a cleaner environment. The U.S. Energy Star program estimates sealing your crawl space can save up to 20% on energy costs.

Become an ESA Member

Bradley Mechanical offers a maintenance program called the Energy Savings Agreement (ESA). As a member, customers receive a detailed HVAC system cleaning and inspection. Twice a year, our HVAC experts prepare your system for major season changes. Along with comprehensive tune-ups, ESA customers also receive priority service over non-ESA customers and get 15% off parts and repairs. Not to mention they’ll also see a 15-30% increase in the efficiency of their system. By investing in the efficiency of your appliances and home performance, you’ll see a significant return as your systems work effectively for longer.

Home Performance Experts

At Bradley Mechanical, our certified technicians are experts in the art of home performance. From attic and crawl space sealing and HVAC maintenance to new appliance installations and emergency repairs—we do it all. We provide a multitude of home performance services that can help make your home more energy efficient.

If you’re looking for Energy Saving Ideas this spring, give us a call today. We offer a wide range of home performance tests and services to ensure we tackle the issue that is draining your energy on the first try. Bradley Mechanical has been helping our community of homeowners save money by improving the efficiency of their home systems for over 50 years.