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

As we get closer to Earth Day, it's the right time of year to start planning how you can make your homes more energy-efficient and eco-friendly. There are more options than ever, and having so many available solutions ensures there’s one that fits every 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 book 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 discuss things with you before suggesting improvements. This specialized evaluation helps you figure out where energy is wasted and how our proposed improvements can provide lasting benefits.

Adding More Insulation Can Boost Home Energy Efficiency

Adequate insulation is an essential, and maybe underrated option for a complete sense of comfort while simultaneously fine-tuning your home’s average energy use. Insulation acts as a barrier, helping to prevent heat loss in the winter and retaining cool air indoors during the summer.

However, 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 like fiberglass, spray foam or cellulose can significantly improve energy efficiency for reduced heating and cooling costs.

3. Seal and Insulate Your Ductwork to Prevent Energy Loss

Damage to the home’s ductwork is an often overlooked source of energy loss that lower HVAC system efficiency, regardless of high-efficiency equipment. To recoup these losses and reduce any wasted energy, homeowners should have a technician examine ductwork for leaks and seal any gaps or cracks as securely as possible.

If that wasn’t good enough, insulating the ductwork around unfinished spaces such as attics or crawl spaces helps prevent 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.

4. Investing in a Smart Thermostat

Investing in a programmable thermostat, and especially a smart thermostat, enables homeowners to customize their heating and cooling schedules according to their daily routines and preferences. By gradually optimizing these temperature settings according to your usage habits, these thermostats improve energy costs and cut down on waste. Smart thermostats further offer benefits like remote access with your tablet or smartphone, or providing helpful notifications for things like maintenance.

5. Stay on Top of Routine HVAC Maintenance

On the topic of maintenance, regular HVAC maintenance is an essential investment you can make for ideal system performance and energy efficiency. Homeowners should schedule routine tune-ups with local professionals, who can perform inspections, filter changes, and other tasks to ensure their HVAC systems function seamlessly.

By addressing repair issues right away and keeping internal clean,your technician will help support your HVAC system and may even prolong its life span.

6. Leverage Zoning Systems and Fan Settings for Enhanced Ventilation

Zoning systems and fan settings provide 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, optimizing comfort and energy usage. Meanwhile, even adjusting fan settings can help with providing consistent temperatures in your home while lessening the strain on the HVAC system.

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

For homeowners looking for major improvements, 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 offer superior performance while requiring less energy.

Farnell Mechanical, Inc. is Here to Make Your Home More Sustainable

Looking to turn your home into an eco-friendly haven? Contact Farnell Mechanical, Inc. at 334-524-2458 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.