Making your home more energy efficient doesn’t have to be expensive and time consuming. Download these how-to guides in PDF format to learn easy ways to not only save money and energy, but also to create a more comfortable, healthy place to live. If you have questions, need assistance or would like to request a free home energy audit, call your local energy advisor.
AC Maintenance
A well maintained system has a much longer operating life. Proper maintenance will also lower your energy consumption during the warm months of the year.
Attic Decking
Improperly installed attic decking can render the insulation ineffective and lowers the energy-efficiency of your home.
A home’s attic access is an area where poor insulation and improper sealing often cause air leaks that make you hot in the summer and cold in the winter — and your electric bill higher.
Attic Hatch
Improper sealing of the attic hatch can cause air leaks that can increase energy consumption.
Attic Insulation
Proper attic insulation is critical to your home’s energy efficiency. A well-insulated attic keeps warm air out in the summer and inside in the winter.
Attic Pull-down Stairs
If pull-down stairs aren’t properly sealed, extreme heat or cold from the attic can make its way into the living space below.
Attic Ventilation
In hot weather, proper ventilation reduces attic temperatures, which saves on cooling costs and lengthens the life of your roof.
Basements
It’s common to lose up to 30 percent of your home’s heat through the basement. Three key improvements can create effective air barriers in your basement.
Ceiling Leaks
Adding insulation in the attic won’t stop energy loss in your home — unless you stop air leaks in the ceilings first. Common problem spots include recessed lights, bathroom fans, chimneys and pull-down attic stairs.
Crawl Space
Insulating your home’s crawl space can greatly reduce energy loss.
Heat Pump Guide
Considering a heat pump, if you're looking for comfort, efficiency, and savings from your heating and cooling system, you can't beat today's high efficiency heat pumps.
Heat Pump Thermostats
Energy can be wasted by pushing the themostat up or down every time it's a bit chilly or stuffy.
Knee Walls
A knee wall is any wall that is adjacent to the attic. Without a proper seal in addition to insulation, the extreme heat and cold of your attic can seep through the knee wall into your living space.
Knee Wall Doors
Adding weather-stripping to the knee wall door is an easy first step to sealing the wall and keeping attic heat or cold from entering your living space.
Pool Pumps
Tips to make your pool pump run as efficiently as possible.
Sealing Ductwork
By eliminating air leakage in the ductwork, your home’s heating and air conditioning system can work more efficiently with decreased run time — your utility bills go down, the air quality goes up and the equipment will last longer.
Space Heaters
On energy consumption, be aware that space heaters are energy hogs. If you do the calculation on the cost of operation, you’ll often be surprised how much your space heater can increase your monthly electric bill. Also, many house fires that occur each winter are caused by improper use of space heaters.
Water Heaters
If you are installing a new water heater, we recommend an electric water heater, which can be more efficient than natural gas or propane. Look for an efficiency rating no lower than .90; the best available units range from .92 to .95.
Weather-strip Doors
Weather-stripping doors can dramatically increase your home’s energy efficiency and stop those chilly drafts.
Whole House Fan
A whole house fan is a simple and inexpensive way to cool your home — just make sure to seal it properly!
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