Energy Saving Tips:5 Energy Efficient Alternatives to Traditional HVAC

According to the EIA, air conditioners consume 16% of the total energy supplied to buildings by U.S. power companies. They also produce over 1 Gt of carbon emissions annually.

So, if you’re noticing your electric bill starting to climb along with the daily temperatures as spring comes to an end, your air conditioner is surely to blame. Fortunately, there are other ways to keep things cool as the summer rolls around.

Check out these energy saving tips for heating and cooling your home more efficiently.

1. Buy a Fan or Two

one of the biggest drawbacks of an air conditioning system is that it must run for a while before it cools the air in a room. With a fan, you’ll experience immediate relief.

Fans are much cheaper to buy, take almost no effort to install, and use very little electricity. You can buy desk fans, standing fans, or ceiling fans to keep you cool indoors this summer.

When winter comes, you’ll need to find an alternative way to keep warm, though.

2.  Get a Heat Pump

A heat pump works by removing cold or hot air from your home and blowing cool or warm air back in, depending on the season.

There are two main types of heat pumps, those that work using air and those that pump warm air from the earth via liquid-filled pipes.  They use a lot less energy in the process than traditional HVACs do.

Heat pumps are a better alternative to furnaces and air conditioners, since you only need one appliance for heating and cooling your home. One appliance means fewer repairs and maintenance issues, so you’ll save money on those aspects, too.

3. Try an Evaporative Cooler

Also known as swamp coolers, evaporative coolers occupy the middle ground between fans and air conditioners. They use a fan to force air through a damp filter that cools it down before it enters your room.

They’re not a good fit for humid climates, since the introduction of moist air into this environment only serves to increase the humidity.

Again, you’ll need to make an alternative arrangement when things start to cool down during the winter.

4. Hook up a Hydronic Cooling System

A hydronic cooling system is also known as under-floor heating. This piped system works very well to warm your rooms during the winter, and you can reverse the process, so it cools things down on hot days, too.

It’s one of the most efficient heating and cooling systems and can have a major impact on your energy bills. Unless you install these systems when you build your home, it costs a small fortune to set one up in an existing home.

5. Upgrade Your Home Insulation

Effective home insulation ensures the hot and cold air in your home stays where it’s meant to be. Leaky windows, walls, and attics cause your air conditioner to work overtime, driving your energy bill every upward.

Better insulation helps ensure you save money on keeping your interiors comfortable all year round.

Get More Energy Saving Tips

Reducing your electricity consumption helps you spend less while decreasing the environmental impact of your lifestyle.

Would you like to discover more ways to make the world a better place for you and everyone else? Check out the rest of our blogs for all the best energy saving tips and home improvement ideas.