Many people don’t know how easy it is to make their homes run on less energy, and here at InterNACHI®, we want to change that. 

Drastic reductions in heating, cooling and electricity costs can be accomplished through very simple changes, most of which homeowners can do themselves. Of course, for homeowners who want to take advantage of the most up-to-date knowledge and systems in home energy efficiency, InterNACHI® energy auditors can perform in-depth testing to find the best energy solutions for your home. 

Why make your home more energy-efficient? Here are a few good reasons:

• It saves you money. It costs less to power a home that has been updated to be more energy-efficient. 

• It increases the comfort level indoors. 

• It reduces pollution. Conventional power production introduces pollutants that find their way into the air, soil, and water supplies.

• It reduces our impact on climate change. Most scientists agree that excessive fossil fuel consumption contributes significantly to global warming. 

• Federal, state, utility, and local jurisdictions’ financial incentives – such as tax breaks, rebates, and component swaps – are available to many homeowners around the U.S.

1. Find better ways to heat and cool your house. 

As much as half of the energy used in homes goes toward heating and cooling. The following are a few ways that energy bills can be reduced through adjustments to the heating and cooling systems:

• Install a ceiling fan. Ceiling fans can be used in place of air conditioners, which require a large amount of energy.

• Periodically replace air filters in air conditioners and heaters.

• Set thermostats to an appropriate temperature. They should be turned down at night and when no one is home. In most homes, about 2% of the heating bill will be saved for each degree that the thermostat is lowered for at least eight hours each day. Turning down the thermostat from 75° F to 70° F, for example, saves about 10% on heating costs.

• Install a programmable thermostat. A programmable thermostat saves money by allowing heating and cooling appliances to be automatically turned down during times that no one is home and at night. Programmable thermostats contain no mercury and, in some climate zones, can save up to $150 per year in energy costs.

• Install a wood stove or a pellet stove. These are more efficient sources of heat than furnaces.

• At night, draw curtains over windows to better insulate the room.