Holiday Energy-Saving Tips

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(Free-Press-Release.com) November 15, 2010 -- It’s almost time to hang the holly and mistletoe. Traditionally, the holiday spirit kicks in for me in at the Atlanta Symphony’s annual Christmas concert. Enjoying all the seasonal traditions, fresh aroma of a Christmas tree or wreath, decorating with polished silver, anticipating the Christmas Day blackberry jam cake with chocolate frosting, doing last-minute holiday shopping, watching children’s excitement and anticipation of Santa’s visit–all make the season bright.

This year will be different for most of us. With the harsh reality of the current economic downturn and job losses across the country, we have all had to tighten our belts and endure the uncomfortable cash pinch this holiday season. However, by following a few holiday energy saving tips from the A-team Heating and Air, you can save money and still enjoy many of your favorite holiday traditions.

Because heating a home uses a considerable amount of energy and drives up expenses, explore ways to cut back. Here are a few steps you can take to make your home more energy efficient, thereby reducing your heating and cooling bills, and conserving resources at the same time.

The Wyckoff Environmental Commission offers a few energy and money saving ideas for the holiday season.

- A perceptive homeowner who changes their thermostat is saving as much as $125 every year, just by going down or up two degrees.

- Start the heating season with a new furnace filter, and clean or replace it monthly to keep your furnace running efficiently.

- Is your house working overtime to heat and cool empty rooms? Using vent covers allow you to prevent unnecessary heating and cooling in guest rooms and other rarely used space.

While exploring ways to reduce heating costs, I found these other smart home heating tips:

- Set your thermostat between 66°F and 68°F, a comfortable range for most people. For every 1°F you lower your thermostat, you may reduce your energy use by 1-3 percent.

- Open-hearth fireplaces draw heated air from your home, sending it and possibly your energy budget up the chimney. If you use your fireplace, install a snug-fitting set of glass doors and crack open a nearby window. Doing so reduces the amount of heated interior air drawn into the fireplace and improves efficiency by up to 20 percent.

- Consider switching to a programmable thermostat that automatically lowers the temperature when no one is home, as well as overnight to save as much as 20% on heating costs.

- Have your heating system tuned and inspected by A-team Heat and Air service technician annually. A-team Heating and Air is on call 24 hours a day to assist you.

- Clean your furnace filter monthly to help your furnace run more efficiently.

- Minimize the number of times that doors to the outside are opened and closed.

- Seal ducts properly to reduce heating costs.

- Open curtains and blinds during the day to let in the heat from the sun, then close them at night to retain heat.

- Install ceiling fans. Ceiling fans set at slow speed push warm air away from the ceiling and move it around the room making you feel more comfortable.

- Insulate your attic. Adding fiberglass insulation in your attic is one of the most cost-effective savings measures and one you can do yourself.

- Seal windows with caulk or weather stripping.

- Add storm windows. If your home is equipped with single-pane windows, adding storm windows can improve energy efficiency greatly.

- Replace inefficient furnaces and water heaters with new high-efficiency models. Use your energy tax credits before they expire on December 31.

- If buying a new furnace, do not get one larger than you need.

While you are bundled up in a blanket or enjoying a fire, use the energy saving tips, and plan a simple, old-fashioned holiday, turn on the stereo and call the A-team, a premier provider of heating and air conditioning HVAC products and services. Call the A-Team at 770-516-5165 or visit their website at ateamheatingair.com.

Happy Holidays from A-team Heating and Air in Atlanta.

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