Plumbing and HVAC Blog

• One of the easiest ways to save electricity is to install a programmable thermostat. Air conditioning temperatures automatically adjust to use less energy during the times when you’re not home and at night. The efficiency continues during the colder months when your heating system also adjusts to save energy.
  
  
• If you have a water softener, check to be sure you're not sending conditioned water to your garden. It wastes sodium or potassium, and the conditioned water balance is fine for people but not for plants. If you're not sure what type of water is going to your outside hoses, call us for help.
  
  
• Leaky ductwork wastes energy and money by sending conditioned air into the walls instead of into living space. Identify and seal leaks in your ductwork.
  
  
• Air conditioning also goes where you don't want it if you have uninsulated ductwork. Insulation increases efficiency by directing more conditioned air into living spaces instead of losing some to unconditioned space, such as crawl spaces and unheated basements or garages. Insulate all visible ductwork.
  
  
• Replace the filters in all ventilation systems as they become dirty. This includes air conditioning system filters, dehumidifier filters, and range hood filters.

You may have noticed one of the less attractive signs of an approaching winter: a coating of ice on your driveway, walkways, or sidewalk. There are greener ways to deal with ice, but this month we’re also giving you some healthy hints for a safe new year:

• Stay off your slippery roof. Hospital stays are not green.
   
• Use sand or environmentally safe ice melts where possible. Just remember that all ice melts need time to work, so read the directions on the bag.
   
• While you’re reading those directions, check that you’re not using more ice melt than the manufacturer suggests. Avoid waste and be greener.
   
• Ice can damage water-carrying pipes (and sometimes cause them to burst), so be sure any pipes that run along an outside wall are insulated.
   
• Turn off lines to outside water spigots. This simple act may not only prevent a burst pipe; it can prevent a pool of ice from forming where someone might slip. It’s also a damage  prevention measure in that whatever freezes will melt when temperatures rise—and is likely to drip into your basement, garage or first floor.

There are multiple ways to save energy, but every little bit helps our world and your wallet. If the most energy-efficient method to achieve savings is out of reach right now, try something a bit simpler. It’s better to do something, no matter how small, than nothing. We call this approach Green, Greener, Greenest.

Green: Caulk around a window frame. Greener: Caulk around all your windows. Greenest: Caulk around the foundation sill in your basement.

Green: Put insulation cutouts behind your electrical outlets and switches. Greener: Put batting down on your attic floor. Greenest: Have insulation blown into your uninsulated or poorly insulated walls.

Green: Use cold water to wash laundry. Greener: Dry your clothes during electrical off-peak hours. Greenest: Hang your clothes to dry.

Take a look around and see if there’s a small Green step you can take right now, a Greener step you can take later, or a Greenest step you can plan for. When it comes to energy efficiency, all steps add up to savings.