While you’re planning for holiday travel, there are some simple steps you can take to save energy at home by minimizing wasted heat throughout your house while you are away.
Thermostats – Lower thermostat settings before you travel for the holidays. Using programmable thermostats can help you save energy at home throughout the season.
Fireplace – Close the flue damper and cover the hearth.
Rooms – Shut interior doors to, and partially close off heating vents to, living room, bedrooms, dens, and other rooms to reduce the volume of cubic air that your system is heating while your family is not occupying these areas.
Garage – Turn off heat to the garage. If your garage is attached to your home, close the garage door to eliminate cold drafts from our Texas winter winds that may impact home heating.
Windows – Close drapes and window blinds to reduce heat loss.
Lighting – Install light timers on outdoor lights and indoor lamps that you plan to leave on for security while you are away, and set the timers to turn on lighting only at night. Use timers for holiday decorative lights as well. Replace outdated light bulbs with LED lights to reduce energy consumption by 70 percent.
Electronics – Many kitchen appliances and electronic devices in your home office and throughout your house utilize a small amount of electricity even while they’re turned off. Unplug these devices before you leave your home for extended periods.
Energy Audit – Have a professional energy evaluation in your home during the fall to identify areas of heat loss and necessary HVAC maintenance. This is the most important step you can take to save energy at home throughout the year.
If you need an air conditioning and heating contractor, please contact us at Bodine-Scott Air Conditioning Company to speak to one of our experts. We have been proudly helping our neighbors in Corpus Christi, Kingsville, Port Aransas, Rockport, Portland, Gregory, Mathis, and Ingleside, and the greater southeast Texas area save energy at home since 1961.
