Energy savings are more of a priority for Asheville-area homeowners now than ever before. Energy prices don’t appear to be going down any time soon, so it’s up to you to lower your consumption if you want to slash your utility bills.

North Carolina residents have the advantage of a fairly moderate climate, but you still have to know what to do if you want to maximize energy efficiency.

These investments will put you on the path to long-term energy savings:

• Find air leaks. You may already know where some of the air leaks in your home are but, if you want to find all the weak points, you need to have a blower door test performed. The test depressurizes your entire home and then uses smoke pencils or other tracking tools to locate any signs and sources of leaks.
• Seal the leaks and add proper insulation. Once the weak points are located, they should be sealed and caulked. Weatherstripping should also be added where applicable. Check to see if additional insulation is needed, particularly in and around the attic, crawlspace, basement, exterior walls, doors and windows. It has to be the correct type of insulation for each situation and must be accompanied with proper ventilation.
• Open the windows. On cool nights and evenings, open your windows to let in fresh air. This will help control humidity and lower the demand on your air conditioning equipment.
• Set your programmable thermostat intelligently. If you don’t have a smart thermostat, consider an upgrade soon. You can then change the settings while you’re at work and asleep and also take advantage of the energy savings features that come with programmable thermostats.
•  Use ceiling fans. When it’s warm outside, make sure to turn the fan on so you can stay comfortable without lowering the thermostat. When cold weather comes, change the direction of your fan to circulate heat around the room and decrease the demand on your heater.

For more energy savings tips, contact Smoky Mountain Heating & Air. We help homeowners in Asheville and surrounding areas choose the right products, install them correctly and maintain them for peak performance and results.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Asheville, North Carolina and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).

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