Climate change is an issue that affects every person on earth, and the higher temperatures, dramatic floods and major droughts are proof that it’s already having a major impact around the world. While you obviously can’t stop climate change all on your own, there are some small actions you can take in your house that will help you reduce energy use in your home.
- Use a programmable thermostat in your home to help reduce energy usage to heat and cool your home. When you’re at work or out of the house for long periods, program the thermostat to go up or down based on the season to save you money. You can program it to rise back to a comfortable temperature right before you get home. Every degree can save you about two percent each month.
- Get rid of incandescent light bulbs in your home when they burn out and replace them with more efficient CFL or LED light bulbs. Making this switch can save you a considerable amount of money over the course of a year and help you reduce your impact on the environment. CFL and LED light bulbs that emit a pleasant light similar to those of incandescent bulbs are also widely available now.
- Have your home checked for leaks. If warm or cold air is escaping through old windows or beneath doors, you’re having to spend more money to run your air conditioner or heater for a longer period of time to make your home comfortable.
- Avoid excessive hot water usage. About 15 percent of the energy an average household uses goes to heating water. Set a strict five-minute limit on showers, stop rinsing dishes before loading them in the dishwasher, and try washing some of your clothes in cold water instead of hot. Special cold water detergents that work well are widely available.
Contact Around the Clock Air Conditioning and Heating, Inc. for more tips on how you can help slow climate change at home. We have been serving residents of the greater Los Angeles area since 1967, and we can wait to work with you too.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Los Angeles, North Hollywood and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about climate change and other HVAC topics, downloadour free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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