When you are trying to cut energy costs in your Peachtree City-area home, looking at your whole-house energy efficiency can help. Think of your home’s energy efficiency like a metal chain. The chain is only as strong as its weakest link, and your home is only as efficient as each individual part.

So what is whole-home energy efficiency? It is the process of taking all the parts of your home that contribute to efficiency, including the HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) system, insulation, ventilation and landscaping, and making sure that each part is operating at peak efficiency. You might have a top-of-the-line HVAC system that’s highly rated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star program, but you won’t get your money’s worth if your home is full of air leaks.

What can you do to improve your whole-house energy efficiency? Look at each component individually, and ensure that it’s as efficient as it can be. Here’s a quick list of what you should inspect:

• Air sealing. If you have leaks, you’re letting your money escape with the air that blows through them. Use weatherstripping and caulk to seal leaks around windows, doors and any openings through which plumbing and wires enter your home from the outside.
• HVAC equipment. Investing in the most energy-efficient HVAC system that you afford can improve your whole-house energy efficiency significantly, not to mention save you considerably on your utility bills. Routine maintenance, including keeping your air filters clean, goes a long way toward making sure that your equipment runs efficiently.
• Ducts. Uninsulated ducts are a major drain on your home’s energy efficiency. Cool air passing through them gets warmed, and warm air cools off. Duct insulation is a simple fix for this problem. Be sure to check for leaks, as well. Duct leaks are simple to fix with duct mastic, a putty-like material that you spread over leaks. It then hardens to form an impenetrable seal.
• Insulation. Because your attic gets the full force of the sun in the summer and because heat rises in the winter, attic insulation is vital. However, adding insulation to your walls, basement and between floors can increase your energy savings, as well. If you’re not sure how much insulation your home requires, check out the online ZIP Code Insulation Calculator.

For more information about whole-house energy efficiency or other HVAC matters, contact Powers Heating & Air. We’re proud to serve the Peachtree City area.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Peachtree, GA and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about whole house energy efficiency and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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