Heating Contractors Can Save You Hundreds of Dollars a Year

An American home spends an average of $2200 on energy bills in one year.  It is estimated that 50% of this amount is spent on your heating and cooling needs. It’s natural that a home owner would be thinking on ways to minimize this amount. Investing in energy saving appliances is a step in the right direction. The EPA (Environment Protection Agency) has developed a plan to inform consumers on how to use eco-friendly high efficiency appliances in their homes. The ENERGY STAR Program was initiated to reduce the nation’s energy consumption. Consumer products bearing the ENERGY STAR logo are more efficient and consume less energy. Buying these appliances would be a responsible step to conserving energy and reducing your carbon footprint. The ENERGY STAR logo is applicable to multiple categories of products – home lighting and electronics, heating and cooling equipment and household appliances.

Another method of making the most of your HVAC system is to ask your heating contractors to assess the sizing requirements of your home. Installing too large or too small heating or cooling systems are both inadvisable. The size of your HVAC system depends on the following features:

*  Square footage of the home space

*  Geographical location of your home

*  Insulation system

*  Window surface and alignment

*  Duct sizing and configuration

Some other factors may also influence the size of heating or cooling system that you may want to install. In-home load analysis by your heating contractors might determine the correct sizing of equipment to best suit your home.

Heating contractors might suggest installing a hybrid system. The modern method for reducing your energy bills is to install the hybrid heating system that combines a furnace with a heat pump, rather than an air conditioner. In the hybrid system the heat pump acts as an air conditioner in warm weather and converts back to heating when the weather cools. The heat pump does not require a burning flame for heating and is adaptable to both gas and electric systems.  The hybrid system provides the most competent method of heating and cooling your home as it is calibrated to automatically adjust to the most efficient energy saving method available. Using a variable speed fan the hot or cold air is circulated consistently through your home providing a controlled environment.

The AFUE of the furnace, the SEER of the air conditioner and the HSPF ratings of the heat pump all indicate how efficient the model is. For more information on energy saving consult your heating contractors. Portland Oregon residents can take the opinion of HVAC professionals for best ways to save energy.