Spring and Summer Energy-Saving Tips

With the arrival of spring, hot summer temperatures are not far away. Now is the time to start making plans on how to save money on your upcoming energy bills. Here are tips to help get you started.

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.

Ceiling Fans

Ceiling fans offer great energy savings in both the winter and summer. Air conditioning systems use more electricity than anything else in your home, by far. 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. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, if you use a ceiling fan and air conditioner simultaneously, you can increase the temperature setting on your thermostat by four degrees without sacrificing comfort.

Consider Becoming an ESA Member

Bradley Mechanical offers a maintenance program called the Energy Savings Agreement (ESA). As a member, customers get 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.

Attic and Crawl Space Sealing

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 duct work. 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, 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.

If you would like to know how you can save money on your energy bill this spring, give us a call today at (804) 748-6728. Our trained technicians provide a multitude of home performance services that can help make your home more energy efficient. Bradley Mechanical has been helping Richmond families save money by improving the efficiency of their home systems for over 50 years.