Making Your Home More Eco-Friendly, Try These Six HVAC Tips

As Earth Day comes up, it's the perfect time to start thinking about how you can make your homes greener and more efficient. There are more options than ever, and having so many available solutions ensures there’s one that matches your budget. Investing in eco-friendly HVAC not only benefits the environment but also contributes to long-term savings and a more sustainable lifestyle.

1. Request a home energy audit

One of the first steps towards an eco-friendly HVAC system is to request a professional home energy audit. During the audit, local HVAC experts assess your home's energy usage and look for any inefficiencies. They’ll take what they find and go over things with you before offering opinionso on the best improvements. This comprehensive evaluation helps you figure out where energy is wasted and how any recommended improvements can bring lasting benefits.

2. Boosting Energy Efficiency Through Insulation

Having enough insulation is a vital, and maybe underrated option for a complete sense of comfort while at the same time optimizing energy use. Insulation strengthens your home’s temperature barrier, preventing heat loss in the winter and holding cool air indoors during the summer.

Surprisingly, most homes would still benefit from adding more insulation. Installing new or supplemental insulation to attics, walls, floors and basements is the usual strategy. Using high-quality insulation materials such as fiberglass, spray foam or cellulose can greatly boost energy efficiency for reduced heating and cooling costs.

3. Seal and Insulate Your Ductwork to Prevent Energy Loss

A leak in your home’s ductwork is an often overlooked source of energy waste that can lead to reduced HVAC system efficiency, even with high-efficiency equipment. To recoup these losses and avoid future wasted energy, homeowners should have a technician check ductwork for leaks and seal any damage as securely as possible.

If that wasn’t good enough, insulating the ductwork around unfinished spaces such as attics or crawl spaces reduces heat transfer into them. Sealing off these inefficient parts of your home is a great example of how a little effort can go a long way.

Trying a Smart Thermostat

Opting for a programmable thermostat, and especially a smart thermostat, enables homeowners to personalize their heating and cooling schedules according to their daily routines and preferences. By learning how to maintain these temperature settings based on your usage habits, these thermostats improve energy costs and stop waste. Smart thermostats further offer benefits like remote access via mobile devices, or sending helpful notifications for things like maintenance.

5. Prioritize Regular HVAC Maintenance

In fact, regular HVAC maintenance is perhaps the most effective decision you can make for peak system performance and energy efficiency. Homeowners should arrange for routine tune-ups with local professionals, who can conduct inspections, filter changes, and other tasks to ensure their HVAC systems operate efficiently.

By tackling repair issues right away and keeping internal clean, you can help safeguard your HVAC system and may even prolong its life span.

6. Use Zoning Systems and Fan Settings for Better Ventilation

Zoning systems and fan settings offer homeowners more room-room-room control over their HVAC systems and indoor air quality. Zoning allows different areas of the home to be heated or cooled independently, maximizing comfort and energy usage. Meanwhile, even adjusting fan settings can help maintain consistent temperatures in your home while minimizing the actual wear and tear on the HVAC system.

7. Think About Upgrading to a New, High-Efficiency HVAC System

For homeowners eager to upgrade, installing a new, high-efficiency HVAC system is an excellent option. The newest HVAC systems utilize variable-speed motors, heat pump technology, and other innovations to provide superior performance while requiring less energy.

Patterson & Stirling Can Help Your Home Be More Sustainable

Eager to make your home into an eco-friendly haven? Contact Patterson & Stirling at 814-308-0416 to schedule a free consultation for eco-friendly home upgrades.

By implementing these HVAC tips, you can not only reduce your environmental impact but also enjoy a cleaner and more efficient home. We’re proud to make the most of this year’s Earth Day creating a greener future, one household at a time.