How to Manage House Temperature and Energy Consumption

Managing your home’s temperature is likely the most expensive energy cost item in your home. 20% of the average American home energy bill goes toward cooling a home in summer, and 30% is consumed by heating  in the winter. Those numbers mean that effectively managing your home’s temperature is one of the most important things you can do to save energy and money. Here are a few easy steps to take to manage your home’s temperature and energy consumption.

Buy an Energy Efficient Thermostat

A digital programmable thermostat is one of the best steps to take to help manage your home’s temperature. Read “Benefits of an Energy Efficient Thermostat” to understand all the details of these devices. In general, the greatest benefit of an energy efficient thermostat is that it is programmable, allowing you to schedule specific changes in temperature (heating and cooling) in your home throughout the day. This means you can be certain you’re using energy to heat or cool a house only when you most need it, rather than manually changing the temperature—and often forgetting when to change it.  Take advantage of the many rebates and incentives Mass Save^® offers for Energy Efficient Thermostats, including both purchasing a wireless thermostat and installing one.

Change Your Furnace Air Filter Every One to Three Months

You can read about the step-by-step process of how to do this in “How to Change Your HVAC Filter.” The greatest benefit of routinely changing your air filter is a financial one. The air filter collects dirt and other debris that flows into the HVAC unit. As the debris collects in the air filter, the airflow decreases, requiring the HVAC unit to work harder and use more energy to blow air to cool or heat your home. A clean air filter ensures maximum airflow—and efficiency of your HVAC unit.

Get an HVAC measureQuick Check-up by a Professional

Because the HVAC unit consumes more energy than any other appliance in your home, ensuring that it’s working efficiently and effectively is a crucial step to keeping down your energy costs. The best way to make sure your HVAC unit is in tip-top shape is to have a professional inspect it every one to two years, depending on the model. A professional will check for blockages, inspect electrical components, check for leaks, and test the system. This inspection is the best way to keep your HVAC unit running well and efficiently—and help keep your energy costs down.

Taking these steps will go a long way to regulating temperatures in your home—and keeping down your energy costs. The more you’re able to maintain a consistent, comfortable temperature in your home, the more likely you’ll be able to anticipate and manage your monthly and annual energy bills.