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With natural gas prices on the rise, homeowners are looking for heat conservation strategies to reduce the amount of energy required to keep warm each winter. Educating yourself about heat conservation will help you improve the efficiency and reduce the costs associated with living comfortably, regardless of the weather.
A great time to think about heat conservation is when building or buying a new home. The orientation of a building and its exposure to natural lighting can be a great source of radiant heat, meaning free daytime heat if planned correctly. Windows on the south and west faces of a structure provide maximum exposure. Trees can be used to provide a filter for sunlight during warm months, and bare branches allow ample light during seasons when additional heat is welcome.
Planning an attic space well is also critical for heat conservation. Installing a radiant barrier in the attic is relatively easy to do and can reduce attic temperatures by 10-20 degrees for about 25 cents per square foot. The radiant barrier helps keep heat out in the summer, but also prevents the exchange of temperature from the interior to the exterior of the structure as well. Proper ventilation and insulation also affect the energy efficiency of your home.
Insulation in the attic and throughout the house is critical to retaining heat. In existing structures, consider investing in a home energy auditor, who can provide a thermal scan of exterior walls that will indicate your home's insulation sufficiency. Additional insulation keeps climate-controlled air from escaping through walls. Caulking or sealing cracks and openings in exterior walls will also reduce heat loss.
Insulation applies to hot water conservation efforts too. Insulating your hot water tank and pipes significantly reduces the heat lost as it travels to your shower or sink. Simple lifestyle changes like switching from baths to showers, washing clothes using cold water settings, and quickly repairing leaky faucets can also reduce your demand for hot water, which leads to heating less. Setting the thermostat on your heater to no higher than 120 degrees to keep from heating water beyond what is necessary for household use.
HVAC equipment is another critical factor in heat conservation. Equipment should be checked annually by a professional to ensure proper function. Annual check-ups will include inspection of the heat exchanger, lubrication of moving parts, and tightening of all connections, among other things. Sources say that annual maintenance can improve efficiency of your HVAC equipment by as much as 10%. When replacing a heater, look for an energy-efficient replacement.
Simple lifestyle changes can improve your home's overall heat efficiency as well. Using a programmable thermostat to eliminate heating a house when empty or overnight can significantly reduce heating costs. Close vents in unused rooms to keep from heating unused space. Open windows during the day to allow as much radiant heat in as possible during cold months. Learning ways to heat more efficiently will reduce your gas bills and decrease your household's carbon footprint.
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