Energy-Saving Tips for Arkansas Homeowners or Homeowners-to-Be

Home energy conservation is one way you can save money while also helping the environment. No matter if you are an existing homeowner, buying a new home, or buying an older home, follow these energy-saving tips:

1. Shade trees have many benefits. Strategically placed shade trees will keep your home cooler, and can add beauty to your property as well.
2. You can lower the heat gained through your windows by as much as 25 percent by coating them with low emissive coating..
3. Attics can get very hot, reaching temperatures of 150 degrees or more in the summer. If you are building a new house, insist the ductwork not be located in the attic. Have it run through conditioned spaces, the basement or crawlspace instead.
4. Whether building a new home or buying an existing home, make sure the insulation is sufficient. Also insulate ductwork, pipes and the water heater.
5. Your water heater is one of the most energy-consuming appliances in your home. Turn your water heater thermostat down, install water-saving faucets and take shorter showers. If you’re building a new home or need a new water heater, purchase the most energy-efficient one you can. Following these tips will help you save both water and energy.
6. Consult with your HVAC technician on the right cooling and heating system for your home. Your goal should be to find the highest-efficiency heat pump, A/C and/or furnace that you can afford. For heat pumps and A/Cs, look for a SEER (seasonal energy efficency ratio) of 16 or above to save money on our cooling bills.
7. Consider alternative energy sources. Research geothermal energy and solar energy and see if either would be a good fit for your home’s needs. These alternative energy sources may cost more upfront, but they come with rebates and tax credits to help offset some of the cost. In fact a qualifying geothermal or solar system will get you a 30 percent federal tax credit.

For more information on these energy-saving tips, contact our experts at Paschal Heat, Air & Geothermal. We have been providing superior HVAC customer service to northwest Arkansas for more than 40 years.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Northwest Arkansas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about energy-saving tips and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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